Nellie Ruth Kelley Mills of Willis, Texas, passed away on June 10, 2026, at Houston Methodist Hospital in The Woodlands. Born at home in Concord, Texas, on March 8, 1947, Nellie built a life centered on family, faith, and the simple joys that made every day meaningful. A longtime member of Concord Baptist Church, she carried her small-town warmth wherever she went and made friends feel like family.
Early Life and Family – Nellie was the daughter of Walter Jackson Kelley and Hazel Ruth (Marshman) Kelley and spent her childhood in Concord before moving to Sabine County. Summers at Boykin Springs with her Aunt Sally and Uncle Forest—who worked for the Forestry Service—were among her happiest memories. Her grandfather, Alan Marshman, affectionately called her “Monkey Doodle,” a name she treasured. Growing up, money was often scarce, and one small family ritual—her mother placing chewing gum on the ceramic pig’s nose—became a beloved memory that stayed with Nellie her whole life.
Work, Marriages, and Passions – Nellie married and loved fiercely. She learned to work on cars from her first husband, Joe Lynn Hogan, and later enjoyed working alongside her second husband, Byron Stout, in the store they owned in Orange, Texas. She spent many years happily married to Paul Mills, with whom she shared travel and the open road; when she could, she rode along in his 18-wheeler to see new places.
Nellie had many talents and hobbies. She was an accomplished cake maker for special occasions and loved painting ceramics. Her yard was a place of pride—she enjoyed raking and burning leaves and tending to the land. She loved old country music, especially Alan Jackson, and she loved to dance. When she and her third husband, Larry Lobb, took the floor, people often stopped to watch—because they danced so beautifully together. Nellie and Larry also shared a passion for pool; they played in tournaments and collected many trophies.
Devotion and Caregiving – Family was everything to Nellie. She was a devoted daughter who cared for her mother, Hazel, through cancer treatments—driving her to Houston, administering shots, and providing constant care at home. That same devotion extended to others in the family: when her great-niece Rebecca Weaver was diagnosed with a rare cancer at age two, Nellie drove Rebecca to MD Anderson for treatments and helped organize a barbecue and raffle fundraiser to support the family.
Nellie’s love for her children and grandchildren was unmistakable. She drove from Hemphill to Norcross, Georgia, many times to get her granddaughter Tabatha, sometimes making the trip just to spend one night with her. She delighted in spoiling her grandchildren—if Mom said no, Maw-Maw would always say yes.
Cherished Stories and Treasures – One of Nellie’s most treasured possessions was her ceramic pig—bought by her grandfather before she was born. It held family history and small, tender rituals from her childhood. Nellie made it clear she wanted to be buried with that pig, and that wish was a testament to how much the small, meaningful things mattered to her.
Her wedding stories and family nicknames were told with a smile. When she married Joe Lynn Hogan she borrowed a dress that snagged on a door as she left—an incident she never forgot and often laughed about. She loved to tell stories of summers at Boykin Springs and of Aunt Sally, whom she loved as if she were her own mother.
Legacy and Survivors – Nellie’s life was marked by love, laughter, and quiet strength. She is preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Paul Mills; her son, Tommy Lynn Hogan; her granddaughters Lacey Hogan and Kimberly Ann Lobb; her parents Walter and Hazel Kelley; her brother Walter James “Sonny” Kelley; and her aunts and uncles Forest and Sally Hopson and Jewel and Ruby Hopson**.
She is survived by her children: Byron Stout Jr. of Hemphill, Texas; Jeffery “Kuntry” Lobb of Willis, Texas; and Teresa (Hogan) Schandorff-Adamick of Willis, Texas; and her sister Linda Faye (Kelley) Stout of Hemphill, Texas. Her grandchildren are Tabatha Jordan, Cody Schandorff, Christopher Hogan, Zakary Stout, Shaun Johnese, Robert Daniel Brasuell, Jeffery Casanova, Caleb Jackson, Abigail Lobb, and Gianna Nelson* She also leaves behind 11 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren who will carry forward her stories and her laughter.
Honorary Pallbearers: Buddy Adamick; Cleland Schandorff; Rodney Jordan; Jayson Jordan.
Closing – Nellie loved roses, good music, a well-made cake, and the company of family and friends. She lived fully—dancing, traveling, working with her hands, and always saying yes to the people she loved. We will remember her for her generosity, her steady care, and the small rituals that made her who she was. As we say goodbye, we hold close the stories she shared, the laughter she gave, and the ceramic pig that carried so much of her history. Rest in peace, Nellie Ruth. You will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
Graveside Celebration of Nellie Ruth Kelley Mills’ Life, age 80, of Willis, Texas, will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 16, 2026 Concord Cemetery in Zavalla, Texas. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m., Monday, June 15, 2026 at the funeral Home.
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