EDDINGTON – Brooks Borden Mills, 77, died unexpectedly Feb. 24, 2009. He was born Sept. 10, 1931, in New York City, son of the late John Tyler Mills and Hope Borden Mills. A graduate of Millbrook School and Cornell University, Brooks served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army in Germany from 1953 to 1955. While in Germany, he gained an intense desire to study forestry; leading to a graduate degree from Yale and work as a research forester for the U.S. Forest Service, Bangor. In 1960 he married Mary Jeffords of Rutland, Vt., and settled in Brewer starting as a stockbroker before deciding to work full time on their beloved Edgewood Tree Farm, Eddington. Above all he considered himself a landsman and was a vocal advocate for responsible forest management; hosting tours of his wood lots and contributing articles to several forestry publications. He was active in intensively managing his wood lots, personal investing, income tax preparation, gardening, raising Christmas trees and fly-fishing. He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. An inquisitive, passionate, endearing and unique individual with a variety of interests, Brooks made an impression on all who met him. He was predeceased by his parents; and stepfather, John W. Easton. He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Mary of Eddington; son, John Mills and his wife, Jenny, of Brewer; daughter, Hope Keleher and her husband, Bill, of Topsham; five grandchildren, Erin, Emily and Ryan Mills, Ben and Grace Keleher; and one sister, Shirley Mills Lee and her husband, Warren, of Sarasota, Fla. His family and many friends will miss him greatly. Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, at East Eddington Community Church, where a memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, March 5, with the Rev. Roger Tracy officiating. The family invites relatives and friends to join in conversation and refreshments after the service at the church fellowship hall. Those who wish to remember Brooks in a special way may make gifts in his memory to East Eddington Community Church, P.O. Box 185, Eddington, ME 04428 or Penobscot Fly Fishers, P.O. Box 651, Brewer, ME 04412. Arrangements by Memorial Alternatives, 205 Center St., Bangor.
BROOKS BORDEN MILLS
