Violet E. Mills, 96, passed away peacefully on Dec. 22, 2018, at Panorama CNC in Lacey, Wash.

Violet was born Feb. 9, 1922, in Yorkton, SK to Martha and Julius Scheller, the second eldest of 12 children. She attended schools in Yorkton and Ebenezer, SK where the family farm was located. Violet moved to Chilliwack, B.C. in 1938 and later to Vancouver. She married William J. Mills on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 1942 in Vancouver.

Violet and Bill migrated to the U.S., settling in Aberdeen in 1946, and finally moving to Central Park in 1960. Bill and Vi cleared the property of numerous huge tree stumps, and eventually he and Violet planted a very large organic garden. Violet got great joy from growing a variety of fruits, vegetables, and berries on the property, and then canning them. She was a master at making jams and jellies, zucchini relish, and her Christmas Baking was legendary. Violet enjoyed knitting, crocheting, growing flowers and making Christmas ornaments and gifts. Bill passed in 2004, and Violet moved to The Colonial Inn in 2010.

Violet is survived by a sister, Bernice, in Saskatchewan, three sons, Brian (Wilene) of Bellevue, Ryan of Aberdeen and Daryl (Betty) of Lacey, 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and a very large extended family in Canada and the U.S.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

The family would like to extend our thanks to the remarkable staff at Panorama CNC for their expert and loving care. We would also like to offer a debt of gratitude to the staff and residents at Colonial Inn, who watched over mom the past 8+ years. Your kindness and friendship will last in our hearts forever.