Carrol Lee Mills

Carrol Lee Mills,PhD, 83, passed away May 29, 2017 at her home in Topeka. She was born February 24, 1934, in McPherson, Kansas, to Andrew and Grace (Schad) Gustafson, and she lived in McPherson until her marriage.

Carrol married Richard A Mills in 1950 (divorced in 1980). She had two children, a daughter, Vicky (Mike) Mitchell, of Topeka, and a son, Richard D. Mills, who preceded her in death in 2006.  She has two sisters, Anita (David) Link and Karen Gustafson, both of Topeka.  A brother, Duane (Eula) Gustafson of San Diego, CA, preceded her in death in 1994.  Carrol has two grandsons, Ryan (Nicole) Johnson of Topeka, and Keith (Melissa) Johnson of Kathmandu, Nepal.  She has nine great grandchildren.

In the mid 50’s she went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. as an engineer. During the 1960s, Carrol obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Washburn, a master’s from Emporia State Teacher’s college and in the early 70’s, a PhD from Kansas State University.  She was employed as a psychologist for the state of Kansas, initially at the Reception and Diagnostic Center for the Dept. of Corrections.  In the late 70s she was the chairperson for the Parole Board and later moved to the Youth Center of Topeka, from where she retired in 1998.  She also did trauma counseling at Topeka State Hospital and suicide hotline work with Stormont-Vail.

Carrol taught swimming through Parks & Rec. and Red Cross, was an avid scuba diver and took many diving trips.  She was a member of the Topeka Ski Club, had her ham radio operator’s license, was active with Master Gardener’s, visited and led bible studies in prison, nursing homes and group homes and taught CPR.   She backpacked around Greece by herself after retiring, followed the Iditarod through Alaska and volunteered with the Israeli Army cleaning weapons.  She was part of the Or Ha Olam congregation in Overland Park for many years and later led a home fellowship.

Services will be Friday, June 2, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Brookwood Covenant Church, 3601 SW 33 ^rd Street, Topeka, Ks.  Memorial contributions can be made to either the Helping Hands Humane Shelter or a central Asian ministry for which a niece and nephew are engaged.  Funds can be sent in c/o Davidson Funeral Home.