Faynell Mills

Faynell Mays Mills, the daughter of Gill Finn and Nellie (Worley) Mays was born on July 27, 1940, in rural Cherokee County, Oklahoma. She passed away on January 27, 2025, at the age of 84.

 Faynell was a graduate of Northeastern State University with a master’s in education and thirty-four years’ experience working in the field of education. She retired in 1996. Her varied experiences spanned from the Headstart level to teacher training at Northeastern State University including bilingual education, gifted and talented and curriculum development through federally funded programs. Her classroom teaching experiences were at Greasy School (1965 - 1970) and Lost City School in Cherokee County (1981 - 1996) as well as three years out -of-state. 

 Proceeded in death by her grandparents Otis and Hannah Girdner, her parents Gill Finn and Nellie (Worley) Mays, her brother DJ and wife Nelma Mays.

 She is survived by her daughter Crystal Morton - Smith, her grandchildren Amber and Brad Halfacre and Ondreyia and Carlos Rosales, her great grandchildren Connor, Chloe, Cole, Matteo and Tiago, all of Tahlequah Oklahoma, one nephew Terry and wife Diane Mays of Stilwell, Oklahoma and many other relatives and friends. 

 Faynell selflessly devoted her life to raising her granddaughters Amber and Ondreyia and cherished every moment she shared with them. She loved them unconditionally even more than herself.

Her favorite past times were sitting in her rocking chair and watching Heartland, Little House on the Prairie and Andy Griffith. She loved more than anything, spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She enjoyed working on puzzles, playing checkers and sitting on the porch listening to the bird’s chirp.  She was a very simple yet practical lady. She didn't need the finer things in life.  As long as she had her family and friends, that's all she needed.

 Faynell was a huge foodie.  If her tummy was happy so was she. She was a sucker for all comfort meals.  She loved beans, fried potatoes, cornbread, chocolate gravy and salmon cakes.  At Thanksgiving no one could top her chocolate pie.  Her special ingredient was love.

 She was so selfless, so ornery, so stubborn and absolutely one of a kind. She would do or say anything to get a laugh. To know her was to love her. She would do anything for anyone in need and you can guarantee you were on her prayer list. When she loved, she loved hard. She would even plan and throw parties for people she didn't know.  That's how much she loved fellowship with family and friends.

She loved God unconditionally and was a faithful member at Calvary Church of Tahlequah, Oklahoma.