Irene Mills

Helen Irene Israel Mills, 78, died Sunday, July 22, 2018, after a battle with cancer. She was a resident of Pisgah Valley Independent Living in Candler for the past 5 years. Mrs. Mills was preceded in death by her parents, Ellis Israel and Christine Warren Israel as well as her husband, Buford Clay "BC" Mills, Jr, and her brother, Ellis Israel, Jr. (Bud). Irene was born on January 20, 1940. She graduated from Enka High School in 1958 and worked at American Enka until 1985 when she and BC moved to Irmo, SC where she worked at Michelin Tire for 20 years. In 2005, they retired to Florida to care for her mother. Mrs. Mills is survived by three step-children, Stephanie Underwood of Candler, Aprille Sales and husband Wayne of Fletcher, and Brian Mills of Orlando, FL; three granddaughters; and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two first cousins, Lewis Smith and wife Teresa of Haw River, NC, and Paul Smith and wife Bunny of Hagerstown, MD; sister-in-law, Sandra Saunders and husband Reid of Blairsville, GA; brother-in-law Dennis Mills of Great Falls, MT; and nieces, Rebecca Hyatt of Asheville, and Jean Israel of Asheville. The Rev. Charlie Sams will lead the Celebration of Life service at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 28 at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue. Burial will follow at Piney Mountain United Methodist Church Cemetery. Mrs. Mill's family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Asheville Buncombe Christian Ministries, (ABCCM), 20 Twentieth St., Asheville, NC 28806.