Late Fire Chief Douglas Mills honored with funeral procession

Rusty Gorelick
reporter@nemasketweek.com
Dec 3, 2022
A fire engine leads other vehicles, including an ambulance, through the Lakeville Town Hall and Fire Station driveway during a funeral procession honoring late fire chief Douglas Mills. Photo by Rusty Gorelick
A 1952 Dodge Maxim engine drives in front of town hall and the fire station during Douglas Mills’s funeral procession. Photo by Rusty Gorelick
An ambulance and a pickup truck with flashing blue lights drive past the fire station during the procession. Photo by Rusty Gorelick
An honor guard stands at the door of the Dahlborg-MacNevin Funeral Home awaiting the casket of former chief Mills. Photo courtesy: Lakeville Fire Department
Bagpipers and fire department members honored the late chief. Photo courtesy: Lakeville Fire Department

LAKEVILLE — Former Lakeville Fire Chief Douglas Mills rode the fire truck one final time Saturday, Dec. 3.

The casket of the long-time department veteran was carried by a 1952 Dodge Maxim engine to his final resting place. First responders and residents joined together to honor the late chief.

Cars and emergency vehicles including fire engines and ambulances drove from Dahlborg-MacNevin Funeral Home down Bedford Street to town hall and the fire station before looping back to the funeral home.

Lights flashed in a show of remembrance for Mills, who served 41 years in various roles in the Lakeville Fire Department.

Born in Middleboro in 1938, Mills served as chief from 1979 until his retirement in 1995. His son, Matthew, became a Lakeville firefighter in 1986.

As chief, Mills pushed for updated equipment and kept high standards within his department.

Mills was a member of the Lakeville Lions and Middleboro Elks, among other local organizations. A dedicated community member, he provided the Apponequet Regional High School softball team an escort home from its 1992 state championship win.

Mills also served on various town committees throughout his life, including the Emergency Planning Committee, the Communications Committee, and the Water Advisory Committee.

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