Beverly Carol Mills, 79, of Sweet Home, Oregon passed away Friday, December 15. She was born Jan. 8, 1938 in Vancouver, Wash., the daughter of Wilbur and Mayme Johnston.

The family moved frequently when she was growing up due to her father’s work in construction. After living in Roseburg, Portland, and Seattle, Wash., she moved to Sweet Home in 1969, where she stayed.

Beverly was a nurse and telephone operator before taking a job at Stayton Cannery, where she worked for the last 30 years before her retirement in 2004. She loved that because she didn’t have any emotional attachment to patients. She was a very hard worker.

She enjoyed crocheting, working in her flower beds, and baking cookies. She loved taking long car rides in nature – the mountains and ocean.

She was very involved in St. Helen Catholic Church. Her family was her greatest asset.

Beverly is survived by her son, Robert (Bob), and daughter-in-law Vera Mills; daughter Lisa and son-in-law Mike Basham; brothers William (Bill) Johnston of Longview, Wash., and Don Johnston of Sweet Home; sisters Edna Fest of Milwaukie and Darlene O’Neil of Roseburg; and grandchildren Alisha Basham, Amanda Basham, Brandon Basham, Robert Mills, Alicia Mills, Danny Mills, and Christina Mills.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Mills; son Michael Mills; brother Wayne Johnston; and parents Wilbur and Mayme Johnston.

Viewing will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 20, at St. Helen Catholic Church. Rosary will follow at 10:30 a.m. Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. Final burial will be at Gilliland Cemetery.

Donations in Beverly’s name may be made to St. Helen Catholic Church.

Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements.