Obituary of Deena Marie Mills

Deena Marie Mills of Colorado Springs, Colorado passed away on December 21, 2017 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida following an eleven-and-a-half year battle with breast cancer. The days preceding her death were filled with the presence and love of her family as they took a special trip to share the holidays together. Deena was born on November 29, 1957 to George and Doreen Livingston in Garden Grove, California. Soon after, they moved to Cortez, Colorado where Deena grew up surrounded by extended family. She graduated from Montezuma-Cortez High School in 1976. Although she had an early career as a dental assistant and receptionist, Deena's true passion was to love and serve God and those He put in her life. In particular, she fiercely loved and supported her husband, Dean, and their children and grandchildren on a daily basis.Deena married Dean on December 30, 1983 and they had four children together. Dean's Air Force career took them around the U.S. and even to England and Australia before his retirement as a Lt. Col. in Colorado Springs. They have been members of Woodmen Valley Chapel for twenty-six years.Deena and Dean served together in their local churches and in military ministry for thirty-four years, helping others to love, serve, and grow in their lives. While stationed at the Air Force Academy on several occasions, they served on the Officers Christian Fellowship (OCF) ministry team where they provided training, guidance and mentorship to Air Force Academy cadets for a total of eighteen years. They also served on the board and then the staff of the Association of Christian Conferences, Teaching and Service (ACCTS) for the past fifteen years, traveling around both the U.S. and the world to help military believers catch God's vision for serving in their nations and cultures.Deena will be remembered by her husband, Dean S. Mills; her daughter, Jessica (Kevin) Vandagriff and grandchildren, Spencer and Amelia of Altus, Oklahoma; daughter, Melissa (David) Taylor of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina; son, Zachary (Nadia) Mills and grandchildren, Graceyn and Caleb of Jacksonville, North Carolina; son, Joshua (Kaitlin) Chambers-Mills and granddaughter, Charlotte of Riverside, Ohio; sisters, Denise Livingston of Peyton, Colorado, and Georjean (Mike Lewis) Livingston of Cortez, Colorado and St. Maries, Idaho. She is preceded in death by her parents, George and Doreen Livingston of Cortez, Colorado; brother, Douglas Livingston, who died in infancy; and her first husband, Capt. Francisco Pineiro, USAF.Visitation, 4:00PM - 6:00PM, Sunday, January 7, 2018, The Springs Funeral Services - North, 6575 Oakwood Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80923.Graveside Service, 10:00AM, Monday, January 8, 2018, will be held at the U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado 80841. Guests should enter through the North Gate, and though all are welcome, this is meant to be a smaller service.Celebration of Life Service, 1:30PM, Monday, January 8, 2018, Woodmen Valley - Stone Chapel, 290 East Woodmen Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80919.The family appreciates messages of condolence and suggests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Deena's name to one of the following charities, or to the charity of your choice: ACCTS (accts.org), giving to either the General Fund or to the ACCTS Exploration Program; or, gifts may be given to The University of Colorado Hospital Breast Cancer Program. To make a gift to support the work of Dr. Elena Shagisultanova at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, please send your gift to: University of Colorado Foundation, P.O. Box 17126, Denver, Colorado 80217-9115. Please make checks payable to the CU Foundation, and on the memo line write "Deena Mills Breast Cancer Research Fund". Gifts may also be made online at www.giving.cu.edu/deenamills Events Visitation Sunday, January 7, 2018 4:00PM - 6:00PM The Springs Funeral Services - North 6575 Oakwood Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80923 Phone: 719-207-8611 Graveside Monday, January 8, 2018 10:00AM Air Force Academy Cemetery Cemetery Road Air Force Academy, CO 80840 Phone: 719-328-1793 Service Monday, January 8, 2018 1:30PM Woodmen Valley - Rockrimmon Campus 290 East Woodmen Road Colorado Springs, CO 80919 Phone: (719) 388-5000