Dwight R. Mills "Boss Hog"
Parsonsfield - Dwight R. Mills, 95, passed away at home on February 1, 2022 with his loving family by his side. Dwight was born in Lovell, Maine on September 2, 1926 to George L. and Frances G. (Andrews) Mills. The family moved from Lovell to Porter in October of 1939.
Dwight attended schools in Lovell and in Porter until the 8th grade.
Dwight went into the Army when he was 19 years old and got an honorable discharge a year later, for missing fingers which he lost in the woolen mill when he was 15 years old. He lost his father at age 23 and being the oldest one home he stepped in to help his mother provide for his younger siblings. Dwight married Caroline "Kay" Nason on July 2, 1954.
Dwight and his brother Carl started out logging with horses and staying in camps, while nearly freezing. He shared many stories about that. He eventually got a tractor and a logging truck and that's how his logging business began. Over the years Dwight bought and sold several pieces of land and he even owner financed land for many people in the area. In the 1960's he bought the family camp on Moose Pond in Denmark. He and many others worked real hard at getting the property to its beauty. Many cookouts, birthday and anniversary parties were held at camp and people were often served bean hole beans.
In 1980 Dwight was approached by Pres Stanley about purchasing a piece of land in South Hiram to start a new fair. Dwight and many others worked hard at turning that land into what is now Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds. Once the fair started Dwight decided that he would put on "bean hole suppers" on Saturday night. Dwight, Carl, Thurman, Wayne and many fair members would have this great bean supper. They would serve 300 to 350 people in an evening.
Dwight loved the show "The Dukes of Hazzard" and that is how he acquired the name "Boss Hog".
Dwight loved gardening and in the late 1980's he opened up the Mills Family Farmstand in Porter. Many of Dwight's grandsons worked for him at the farmstand. Dwight was a very generous man and gave away many vegetables. He also started Mills Gravel Pit in the 80's which is thriving and operated by family today.
He was predeceased by his wife Caroline "Kay", son Ralph, son-in-law Rusty, two brothers, Carl and Robert, and three sisters: Josephine, Sylvia and Maxine. Dwight is survived by his brothers, Thurman (Fern) Mills and Wayne (Sandy) Mills, and a sister, Hilda (Forest) Day. Dwight is also survived by his children: Dale, Denise and Debbie; Eight grandchildren: Kevin Mason Jr., Jerrod (Rayleen) Lajoie, Jason (Kristen) Lajoie, Amanda (Matt) Sanborn, Shane (Jodi) Lajoie, George (Alex) Mills, Jade Darby and Ryan (Devin) Mills. Fourteen great grandchildren: Alexis Lajoie, Jacob Lajoie, Danica Sanborn, Jeremiah Lajoie, Brooke Lajoie, Addisen Lajoie, Garrett Sanborn, Lillian Darby, Aubrey Mills, Avery Lajoie, Kassidy Lajoie, Adalynn and Olivia Mills, and Ollie Mills.
A celebration of Life will be held on May 14th from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds in South Hiram. Online condolences may be expressed at the Poitras, Neal and York website: www.mainefuneral.com
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: The Mills Family Scholarship, c/o Superintendent's Office, 137 South Hiram Rd., South Hiram, ME 04041. Checks made to : MSAD # 55, memo - Mills Family Scholarship. Or to: Sacopee Rescue, PO Box 367, Parsonsfield, ME 04047.