Manuel Mills

Manuel (M.D.) Mills, 84, of Midland, passed away Tuesday, March 15, 2011. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 pm, Friday, March 18, 2011 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Chapel in Midland with Rev. Brian Smith, officiating.M.D. was born January 31, 1927 to Fred H. & Mary Edna Mills in Vernon, TX, Wilbarger County. He attended Vernon Schools through ninth grade. He joined the Navy in 1944. He was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii at the John Roger Air Installation Station as a crash truck driver in the fire department. M.D. received his honorable discharge from the Navy in 1946. Following this he went to work in the fire department at South Plains Army Airfield in Lubbock, TX until the base closed in 1947. After his Navy career he sought employment in the oilfields for Amerada Petroleum Co. From 1954-1972 he owned his own television repair business. After early retirement in September 1972 from Amerada-Hess he opened his own oilfield business and called it D-JAX Corporation. He was doing oilfield fluid level and dynamometer surveys. Wheels were turning and he developed his own dynamometer in 1976. In 1982 he invented the D-JAX Well-Tender, which led to the updated version of the Penny-Pincher Pump-off Control. Over the course of his professional career he was awarded 9 patents for oilfield automation and monitoring equipment. At the time of his death he was in the process of manufacturing and marketing his new developments, which included the Curli-Q Plus organizer and Adjusto Book holder.M.D. was a long time member of the Masonic Lodge. He became a member while in Midkiff, TX and transferred his membership to the Acacia Lodge in Midland.In his lifetime he was a fierce competitor in sports, cards, dominoes and pool. He was a stalwart husband, father and grandfather. He loved his country and his family. He met his bride Willie Marsh (Billie) Chappell in 1947 in Lubbock, TX. They married August 19, 1950 in Clovis, New Mexico. They enjoyed traveling across the United States during their 61 years together.He is survived by his wife Willie Marsh (Billie) Chappell Mills; three children, Marshal Lee Mills and his wife Sandy, Joe Dale and his wife Dianne, Kathy L Whitaker and her husband Wayne, all of Midland; seven granddaughters and 12 great-grandchildren; one sister Wilma Banks and brother-in-law Roy Barrett; and numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by six brothers, two sisters, including his twin sister Madge Barrett, and numerous nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials be made to the charity of your choice.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com,