Louise Miriam Timblin-Mills

Louise Timblin Mills, 85, of Española, New Mexico, passed away peacefully on August 6, 2025, knowing she left behind the love of family and friends whose lives she lit with humor, warmth, and an irrepressible zest for living.

Born in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, to Earl and Esther Timblin, Louise was the eldest of six—a natural protector whose fierce loyalty showed itself early. As a girl, she could be found standing ahead of her younger brothers Dave and John, defending them from bullies with a mix of courage and wit that would define her for the rest of her days.

A fateful high school trip to Los Alamos with her aunt and uncle changed everything. New Mexico’s wide skies and sun-warmed mesas spoke to her soul, and she knew instantly where she needed to be. After graduating from Slippery Rock College, she packed her Spitfire, pointed it west, and never looked back.

Louise began her career in social work, guided by an unshakable belief in people’s potential. Later, she became a physical education teacher—mentoring her students with a blend of discipline, encouragement, and playful daring. She was known to walk up an entire flight of stairs on her hands, proving that joy and strength belong together.

It was in New Mexico that she met Clifford Mills, her lifelong partner in love and in adventure. Together, they embraced the outdoors in all its forms—camping beneath star-blessed skies, hunting for arrowheads, exploring hidden caves, and even sleeping in their own teepee protected from the whispering desert winds. They traveled to gun shows in pursuit of antique treasures, and their home in Española became a living gallery of their shared passions.

Louise was endlessly curious and impossibly full of life. She swam daily, provided, as she often laughed, “the damn pool was in working order.” She devoured books of every stripe—her favorites included Bill Bryson and David Sedaris—wandered art museums with reverence and applauded fiercely at opera and dance performances. She had a memorable, infectious laugh—one that could lift the mood of a room in an instant and echo in the hearts of those who loved her. And she never met a stranger who didn’t quickly feel like a friend.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Cliff; her father, Earl; her mother, Esther Timblin Gotjen; and her brothers Dave, John, and Bob. She is survived by her sister, Melanie Timblin; her brother, Terry Timblin; her sister-in-law’s Jenny and Sawako; her nieces Lisa, Erin, and Stephanie; her nephews Justin and Stephen; and countless others who were fortunate enough to fall within her wide and loving embrace.

To say Louise was one of a kind is an understatement. She leaves behind a legacy stitched with loyalty, laughter, and adventure—a reminder that a life well-lived is not measured in just years, but in the joy, adventure, and connection it brings to the world. 

In honor of Louise's life, A Graveside Service will be held on August 19, 2025 at Santa Fe National Cemetery beginning at 12:30pm. Services are being handled by the caring professionals of Rivera Family Funeral Home in Espanola. We offer our most sincere condolences to everyone wo knew her.