James Roy Mills – (March 10, 1937 – June 12, 2021) born in Elizabeth City, NC to Earl Russell Mills and Gertrude Peebles Mills. He spent his early years in Asheville, NC graduating from Lee Edwards High in 1956, where he lettered in four sports (basketball, baseball, football and track). In 1957, he was invited to attend the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball training camp, and played on their semi-pro team in Florida for the summer.  Realizing that a career in baseball wasn't going to pay the bills, he returned to Stuart, FL where his family had moved, and began working with his father painting houses.

While painting houses, he worked with a young guy named James Hutchinson.  They became friends and one day they got together for drinks where Hutchinson showed his works in progress of Seminole Indians on canvas.  Hutchinson went on to be inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, and those same paintings hang in the Florida State Capitol Building.

Jim then took a job with FPL as a lineman.  While working on the power lines at City Hall in Stuart, he met the Stuart Chief of Police, who asked if he would like to try police work. That was the start of a storied career in law enforcement. After six months, Jim was appointed Acting Chief of Police until a new Chief was hired.  He then became Assistant Chief of Police. While working at the Police Department, he met Jeanne Brock. They were married in February 1961 and celebrated their 60 ^th anniversary this year.

That same year, Martin County Sheriff Roy Baker asked Jim to come work as one of seven deputy sheriffs. Since the county deputies made $50 more per month, he said yes, and spent the rest of his career there, retiring in 1992 as Chief Deputy.  Jim grew with the department over those 33 years, from working six days a week, on call all the time, to overseeing 355 employees and a $22 million budget. The years spent in his law enforcement career were very fulfilling, as were the lifelong friendships and brotherhood developed over his career.  Looking back on his career later in life, he was most proud of the occasions where, in difficult situations, he was at least able to provide some closure to families.

Jim enjoyed travelling, camping, fishing and riding horses with the family. Jim and his daughters competed in barrel racing at the Rusty Spurs riding club events in Stuart with wife Jeanne as the announcer, in addition to competing in 100-mile competitive trail rides in Ocala Forest.

After retirement, Jim and Jeanne were able to travel in their camper to all the states including Alaska. They also road-tripped across Canada from West to East to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.  When he wasn't travelling, Jim loved spending time with the grandchildren, teaching them to fish, going birding and reminiscing.  He enjoyed the monthly gatherings of the retired law enforcement community.

Survived by wife of 60 years, Jeanne Brock Mills, sisters Betty Tucker(Herb) and Sydney Griffin, daughters Heidi McNabb(Scott) and Melissa Powers(Brian), grandchildren Justin McNabb, Asheton McNabb, Maggie Powers, Lindsay Powers Wisehaupt(Ben), and Patrick Powers and well loved pug Sammy.

Memorial contributions may be made to Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches www.youthranches.org or a charity of your choice.

Memorial service 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 25 ^th at First United Methodist Church of Stuart followed by a gathering at The Kane Center.