Thomas "Tom" Robert Mills

Thomas Robert Mills passed away peacefully at home and was united eternally with his Lord and Savior on Monday, February 16, 2026. Tom was born November 23, 1945, in Battle Creek, Michigan. Tom grew up in Salem, MO surrounded by cousins and wide-open spaces, until he graduated high school and joined the U.S. Army National Guard. After high school, Tom painted several signs for local business and there Mills Sign Company was born. He then relocated to Chicago, Illinois for a time and built architectural scale building models including: the First National Bank, John Hancock Building, and others for firms all over the world. He also began his love of motorcycles and joined a motorcycle club while in Chicago, spending hours on the road driving his BSA back and forth from Salem to Chicago. On December 31, 1970, Tom married his beautiful bride, Dorothy (White) Mills. For over 55 years, they shared adventure after adventure in business, church, community, and family. Tom’s immense creativity and “jack-of-all-trades” persona provided them with many opportunities from working at a finance company, Floyd’s Charcoal Plant, Radio Jockey for the Radio Station in Salem, owning local shoe and boot repair Cordwainers Store in Salem, a brief time at Owens-Illinois in Michigan, Star Sign Company in Rolla, before reviving Mills Sign Company. Tom and Dee then made the business a “family” business when their marriage was blessed with 2 children: John Mills of St. Robert, Melanie Roark (Justin) of Duke, two granddaughters: Madison Mills and Brooklyn Roark and one great granddaughter: Gentry Potts. In 1991, Mills Sign Company moved operations to the Waynesville/St. Robert/Ft. Leonard Wood area and rebranded, as it remains today, as Signs in Time. While the business name changed, his personal touch went into every sign that left the shop. His dream lives on through his family, and his legacy of advertising excellence continues today. While in the St. Robert area, Tom served as President of the Chamber of Commerce and Vice-President of the Pulaski County Sewer District #1. He also served with his guitar and harmonica on the Missouri Prayer Worship Team travelling the state playing at numerous different churches, and on his local church’s music team at Church of God St. Robert. Tom adored his family more than anything on earth and spent a lifetime making sure they knew how special, appreciated and loved they were. His story will forever live on in the halls of heaven and through every sunrise and sunset, every four-wheeling trip, every rummy, canasta or aggravation game, and in the hearts and smiles of those who knew him and loved him. Thomas (Tom) Mills is survived by his loving wife Dorothy “Dee” Mills of the home; son John Mills of St. Robert, MO; daughter and son-in-love Melanie and Justin Roark of Duke, MO; granddaughters Madison Mills and Brooklyn Roark, great granddaughter Gentry Potts, and half-sister Michele (Ed) Godlewski of Michigan, as well as nieces, nephews, cousins, and numerous other dear friends. Tom is preceded in death by his mother Katherine Halbert and step-father Vernon Halbert, Father Granvil Mills and wife Jeanne, half-sister and niece Melanie and Meghann Pouch, and half-brother Richard Mills. A Celebration of Life service will be held Sunday, March 1st at Church of God St. Robert in St. Robert, MO at 3pm. If you would like to visit with the family, visitation will be at 2:30pm. In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made in memory of Tom Mills to Wilson Mortuary and mailed to PO Box 45 Salem, MO 65560. Memorial Envelopes will be available. Condolences may be left online at www.wilsonmortuary.com

Thomas "Tom" Robert Mills

November 23, 1945 - February 16, 2026