Carol Ann Mills

June 13, 1939 – January 5, 2026

Carol Ann Mills passed away peacefully on January 5, 2026, in Woodland, California, at the age of 86, with her daughter Susan by her side.

Carol was born on June 13, 1939, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Eleonore Karoline Kistner and Walter Harry Heyden. As a child, she moved with her family to Glendale, California, where she graduated from Glendale High School. Growing up alongside her brother, Walter "Bud" Heyden, she developed the independence, curiosity, and strong work ethic that would define her throughout her life.

In 1960, Carol married Lyle Walter Mills, whom she met while working at the Yellow Pages at Pacific Bell. Their marriage was a true partnership—built on working together, raising a family, traveling, and having fun. Early in their marriage, they owned and operated several liquor stores, and later founded H & C Energy Control, a business specializing in solar window coverings. Carol served as the bookkeeper for their businesses, approaching her work with diligence and pride.

Carol was a devoted mother to four daughters: Kathy Ann Heller, Susan Lynn Mills, Janice Marie Divine, and Judith Ellen Stevenson. She was also a beloved aunt to her niece, Jennifer Ayre. Her family grew into an extraordinary legacy of 16 grandchildren and 48 great-grandchildren, each a source of genuine interest and joy. She loved hearing what her grandchildren were up to and kept up with their lives well into her later years, following them closely on Facebook and delighting in their stories.

Carol shared a particularly close bond with her sister-in-law and best friend, Marcia Morris, Lyle's only sister. The two were, in the family's words, "thick as thieves." Carol deeply missed both Marcia and Lyle after they passed more than a decade before her.

Those who knew Carol would describe her as sarcastically funny, endlessly curious, and genuinely interested in the world around her. She loved family jokes, a bit of gossip, and the small, funny moments life provides. She believed in an honest day's work, self-sufficiency, and taking pride in doing things well, never expecting anything to be handed to her.

While raising her children, Carol led an active and engaged life. She played tennis, bridge, and bowled, loved to read, and volunteered her time translating books into braille. Holidays were especially meaningful, with her home often open to the entire family. She made birthdays special with dedicated dinners and believed deeply in the importance of gathering everyone together.

In her final months, Carol was lovingly cared for by her daughter Susan, who lived with her and supported her during the last six months of her life.

Carol lived by simple, steady values: be a good person, help others, know right from wrong, and take pride in what you do. She leaves behind a family shaped by those principles, and by her warmth, humor, and presence.

Her personality will continue to echo through generations of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren—each carrying forward a little of her spirit.