Raymond C. Mills, 88, of Middletown, RI, peacefully passed away at home with family on March 17, 2025.
The son of Raymond F. and Mary L. (Grant) Mills, Ray was born in Cambridge, MA in 1936. He spent many days of his youth shining shoes in Harvard Square with his brother, John. Upon graduating from the Cambridge High and Latin School, Ray proudly served in the United States Navy, primarily on the USS Intrepid in the Mediterranean Sea during the Korea war conflict. This enabled him to receive a blessing from Pope John XXIII in St. Peter’s Square one Easter Sunday. He completed his active duty and married the love of his life, Nancy, in 1961. Ray earned his Bachelor of Science in Public Relations and Communications and Russian Languages from Boston University while working nights at the US Post Office to support his young family. Ray had a storied career, culminating with his outstanding leadership of the Newport County Chamber of Commerce prior to his retirement.
An avid reader, Ray loved golfing, painting, languages, and literature. A renaissance man, he practiced speaking Russian with officers based at the US Naval War College in Newport, served as host with Nancy to several international officers over the years, and spent hours admiring great art masterpieces while honing his own painting skills. A lover of animals and nature, Ray adored the family’s beagles, and a recently adopted kitty named Leia.
Ray is survived by two daughters, Valerie M. Perrotti of Middletown and Audrey Mills (Rogers) of Fishers, Indiana, sons-in-law Christopher B. Perrotti and Marcus M. Rogers, grandchildren Sophia T. Perrotti, John P. Perrotti, Christopher A. Perrotti, and Joseph M. Rogers, as well as his sister Nancy J. Mills of Waltham, MA.
He is preceded in death by his adoring wife of 35 years, Nancy, his parents, and siblings John E. Mills and Barbara A. Mills Marcel.
A special heartfelt thanks to Southcoast Health at Home for their outstanding palliative and hospice care that enabled Ray to remain at home with his devoted family.
Visiting hours will be held Thursday, March 20, 2025 from 5-7 pm at the O’Neill-Hayes Funeral Home, 465 Spring St, Newport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, March 21, 2025, at St. Joseph’s Church, corner of Broadway & Mann Ave, Newport, at 10 am. Burial with military honors will follow at St. Columba Cemetery, 465 Brown’s Ln, Middletown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Church, www.stjosephsnewport.org or the Potter League for Animals www. potterleague.org.
