Short's Funeral Chapel - Obituary Detail

Short’s Funeral Chapel Obituaries

In Loving Memory...
Aaron Donald Mills

8/31/76 - 5/9/09

Aaron Donald Mills, age 32, of Moscow, Idaho, was born in Canberra, ACT, Australia on August 31, 1976 to Dr. Joseph M. Mills, Jr. and Carol Ann Gillis Mills. Aaron lived in Livermore, California and Richardson, Texas and graduated from Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas. He graduated from San Jacinto College in Pasadena, Texas, with an Associate of Arts degree and Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. He worked as a chemist for Dixie Services in Houston, Texas from 1999 to 2000. Aaron married Heidi Mariah Felpel, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Leslie Felpel, in December 2000. Aaron's graduate work led to a Doctor of Philosophy in organic chemistry from the University of California at Davis in 2005. He worked on organic molecular synthesis projects in postdoctoral studies at UC Davis and the University of California San Francisco Department of Medicine before accepting a position in 2008 as an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. He was establishing a research program in organic chemistry at the university with a focus on the development of drugs to treat cystic fibrosis. Aaron was an avid photographer and talented musician. He had a gift for writing music, and he played guitar and harmonica in churches in Davis, California and Moscow. As a new resident of Idaho, Aaron had recently rekindled his passion for fishing and the outdoors. Aaron is survived by his wife of 8 years, Heidi Mariah Mills, his brother Andrew Thomas Mills, his sister Diana Mary Melissa Harding and his parents Joseph and Carol Ann Mills of Alvin, Texas. A funeral service is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2009 at St. James' Episcopal Church in Pullman. Burial will be at the Sunset Memorial Park in Nacogdoches, Texas on Saturday, May 23, 2009. Memorial contributions may be made to the Aaron D. Mills Scholarship Fund at the University of Idaho, Gift Administration Office, P.O. Box 443147, Moscow, ID, 83844-3147; gifts@uidaho.edu.Arrangements have been entrusted to Short’s Funeral Chapel, Moscow, Idaho and online condolences may be left at www.shortsfuneralchapel.net.