Donald G. Millis

Hadley

Donald G. Millis, 91, of Hadley Hill Rd., passed away peacefully Friday, October 10, 2025, at his home surrounded by his family.

Donald was born in Corinth, NY on October 12, 1933, to the late Charles and Nellie (Centerbar) Millis. Following graduation from Corinth High School in 1955, Donald served in the United States Marine Corps from 1956 until honorably discharged in 1958.  He then married Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Madison on June 26, 1960, and settled in Hadley, NY where he continued to live after Betty passed away on November 12, 1987.

Don was an incredibly hard worker who couldn’t stand to be idle. In the early 1960s, he drove an ambulance for the Corinth Emergency Squad before beginning a 32-year career at International Paper Company in Corinth. There, he worked as a super calendar operator and retired in 1993 as a proud member of the Quarter Century Club.

Even after retirement, Don stayed busy. He worked for Western Building Restoration in Albany, cleared juniper bushes, bittersweet, rocks, and trees from the horse pasture, and spent winters helping his brother-in-law George make maple syrup on Tower Road. He loved driving his tractor and using its many attachments—whether to create enormous vegetable gardens, snow-blow the driveway, or take down pine trees just because he could. An avid outdoorsman, Don enjoyed hunting and was a founding member of the Sargent Pond Hunting Club. He spent countless weekends improving the camp and cherished every opportunity to be there with friends and family. Don was also an active member of the Lake George Tri-County Mixers bowling league, finally hanging up his shoes at the young age of 89. In his later years, he became a beloved regular at diners in the surrounding towns, always greeted with a warm welcome wherever he went.

In addition to his parents and wife, Don is predeceased by his siblings John Millis, Walter Millis, Arthur Millis, Alva Lyford, James Millis, Thomas Millis, and infant siblings Carl and Mary.

Don is survived by his daughter, Lori Millis of Hadley, NY; granddaughters Katherine (Richard) Yerry of Stony Creek, NY, and Christine (Joshua) Wallace of Tonawanda, NY; great grandchildren: Ronan, Eloise, Lochlan, Paden, and Esther; a brother, Fred Millis of Corinth; sister- and brother-in-law, Carol and George Madison Jr. of Hadley, and many nieces and nephews, including Tim Allen, who helped care for him the past several years.

He always enjoyed reading the newspaper—just to make sure his name wasn’t in the obituaries. Today, if he could read these words, he would know it is finally time to rest. Don shared many words of wisdom throughout his life, but perhaps his most enduring message was this: “If you don’t have a sense of humor, then you don’t understand life.”

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, October 24, 2025, at the Brewer Funeral Home, 24 Church St., Lake Luzerne. Friends may call at 1:00 pm with a service to follow at 2:00 pm and repast immediately following the service at Don’s home.

In lieu of flowers, please visit your local diner, enjoy a hearty meal, and leave a generous tip for your server in Don's memory.

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