Mary Mills

Mary Catherine Mills, 76, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of St. Charles, Mo., died Friday, Jan. 13, 2006, at Chateau Girardeau Health Center.

She was born Feb. 27, 1929, in New Hamburg, Mo., daughter of Louis and Leona Scherer Essner. She and Ivan Clifford Mills were married Sept. 9, 1950, in Kelso, Mo. He died Feb. 10, 2003.

Mills was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, St. Charles, Mo.

Survivors include a daughter, Georgia Anders of Litchfield, Minn.; two sons, Lawrence Mills of Jackson, Mo., David Mills of Wedowee, Ala.; three brothers, Cletus Essner, Paul Essner, both of Kelso, Eugene Essner of Brightwood, Va.; a sister, Georgia Ann Essner of Kelso; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, William Essner and Theon Essner.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday and at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Funeral Mass will be at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church at 1 p.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Richard Tillman officiating.

Burial will be at St. Charles Memorial Gardens in St. Charles, Mo.