Maryann Mills, 69

Maryann Mills, age 69, was born the Fourth of July in Arcadia, Calif., to parents Nolen and Mary Mills. She was the youngest of four children and passed through this life Oct. 3, 2023.

Maryann graduated from Arcadia High School, then Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, with honors, where she earned a degree in Liberal Studies and a master's in Guidance Counseling. Following graduation, her teaching career took her to Idaho Falls and Coeur d’Alene, where she taught mostly primary grades in the Coeur d’Alene School District for 34 years and was recognized numerous times for her teaching excellence.

She married her gentle and loving husband, Tom Clark, in a private ceremony July 12, 1988, on Turn Island, San Juan Islands, followed by two family receptions in California.

Maryann is preceded in death by her parents, Nolen and Mary Mills, and brothers CJ Mills and Scott Mills. She is survived by her husband, Tom Clark; her sister, Penny Di Caro; brother-in-law Tim Clark; and sisters-in-law Mary Kay Hunefeld and Jeanie Mills.

Surviving nieces are Julie Di Caro, Shelly Le Gros, Christy Mills and Shannon Hunefeld and nieces-in-law Sarah Mills and Christina Di Caro. Surviving nephews include Gino Di Caro, Jonathan Mills, BG Hunefeld, Christopher Clark and nephew-in-law Scott Le Gros. Great-nieces and nephews are Kaitlyn Le Gros, Ben Le Gros, Cooper Mills and Willow Mills.

Post-teaching, Maryann’s life revolved around volunteer work. She helped at a local school and tutored students in math after school in her home. She and Bayley, the therapy dog she raised, became a therapy team for delighted residents at Life Center for five years. She also volunteered in the infusion room at Kootenai Health until COVID-19 suspended the volunteer programs at the hospital.

Maryann also spent many hours of enjoyment in her yard and garden and created crafts of all kinds, including her favorite counted cross-stitching. She loved dogs and always had one by her side over the years — Chelsea, Lucy and Bayley. She and Tom spent many days during the summer months at their Priest Lake cabin, where they enjoyed hiking, boating, bike rides and kayaking.

Maryann wished to extend her thanks to her friends and family for the meaningful visits, phone calls and cards during her illness.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrances be made in her name to the Susan G. Komen Foundation (https://www.komen.org/), Priest River Animal Rescue (https://pranimalrescue.org/), or St. Jude Children’s Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/).

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday Oct. 28, 2023, at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel, 373 E. Hayden Ave., Hayden, ID 83835, with a reception to follow.

Please visit Maryann’s memorial and sign her online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.