Morland Seth Mills

Morland Seth Mills was born on March 13, 1935, in Hockley County, Texas, to William Seth and Helan Dee (Provence) Mills.  He went to his eternal Home on March 15, 2022, at the age of 87.  Morland grew up in various communities in west Texas and the Texas Panhandle before moving to Beaver County in 1949.  He lived in Perryton, Texas, and Beaver County, Oklahoma, for the majority of his life. He had a great work ethic and quit High School his junior year to work and help support his family when his older brothers went to serve in the war.  He later completed his GED. He worked several jobs as a young man until he went to work at Natural Gas Pipeline Company at Gray, Oklahoma.  He worked there as a lineman and foreman for 35 years before retiring, later returning to that field as an inspector.  He farmed and raised cattle and was a businessman. 

Morland met the love of his life, Connie Jolene Slaughter, while living in Perryton, Texas.  He played the guitar in a Country Western band with his brothers and some of her brothers. Connie and her sister sometimes sang with the group at talent shows.  They were married August 16, 1956 and remained happily married for 58 years until Connie went Home to be with the Lord.  Morland and Connie had four children, Vicki, Larry, Timothy, and Jeffrey, while living in Perryton.  They bought a farm in Balko in 1964, where they lived and raised their children for many years.  Morland was extremely involved in all of his children’s lives, attending every church and school activity.  His children cannot remember a time that he wasn’t there for them.  He was very active in Balko Baptist church serving as a deacon, teacher, and Sunday School Director and teaching his children to love the Lord by example. He was also active in community projects and served as President of the Balko Booster Club, which was a passion of his.  After retirement, he and Connie moved to Beaver, where they  became active in the First Baptist Church.  Morland loved to play his guitar as a way to worship God each Sunday.  He and a local friend often played their guitars and sang for the residents of the Beaver Nursing Home and other functions.  He was in the Chamber of Commerce and other community groups.  During the last 3 years, due to declining health, Morland lived primarily in Shawnee, Oklahoma, with his daughter and son-in-law, where he often played his guitar as part of the praise team at 1^st Baptist Church, Tecumseh. 

Morland was preceded in death by both parents, brothers Gordon Mills (Fritch, TX), infant Eugene Mills (died at birth), and Charles Mills (Beaver, OK),  sisters and spouses Hazel and Bill Lilly (Perryton, TX) and Valdene (Beaver, OK) and Dan Maberry (Spearman, TX), son Jeffrey Mills (Rolla, KS),  brothers-in-law Bob, Larry, and Kenny Slaughter (Perryton, TX),  and nephews Elbert Mills (Abilene, TX) and Sam Lilly (Perryton, TX), and niece Jacque Mills (Abilene, TX).

Morland is survived by his brother Billy Mills (Sherwood, AR), children and spouses Tony and Vicki Yates (Shawnee, OK), Larry and Kay Mills (Horton, KS), Timothy and Denise Mills  (Las Vegas, NV) and Carrie Tucker (Wichita, KS), grandchildren and spouses Jessica Mills (Las Vegas, NV), Seth and Janice Mills (Elk River, MN), Luke and Grace Yates (Springfield, TN), Hannah and Nate Broeckelman (Great Bend, KS), Emily and Colter Williams (Tecumseh, OK), Sophie Mills (Elk River, MN), Annie Mills (St. Paul, MN), Beth Mills (Manhattan, KS), Sadie Mills (Manhattan, KS),  Ross Mills (Wichita, KS),  and great grandchildren Kash Broeckelman, Myah Mills, Aubrey Mills, Declan Broeckelman, Tayla Broeckelman, Elliana Mills, Landon Williams, Levi Williams and Bowen Mills.  Other survivors include in-laws Karen Mills (Yukon, OK), Charlene Slaughter (Perryton, TX), Jeanne Slaughter (Hugoton, KS), Anita and A.C. Price (Amarillo, TX), Galen and Flora Slaughter (Burleson, TX)  and many nieces, nephews, and friends. 

Morland loved people and looked for ways to serve them; he had a true servant’s heart. We have heard from numerous friends and family during these last few days who shared special memories of their time with him. One friend shared, “ I really think that if he was not trying to better everyone else’s life that he was not happy” – and he was very happy! He will be dearly missed.