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Nola Sizemore

An avid quilter and member of the Liggett Homemaker’s Club for the past 20 years, Nancy Mills stays busy both mentally and physically now that she is retired.

Along with the homemaker’s club, Mills, 65, of Mary Alice, is also a member of the Harlan County Extension Agency’s cooking club, book club, Niffy Needles, Material Girls and has been the Harlan County Homemakers Council secretary for the past four years.

“Quilting is my favorite thing to do,” said Mills. “I’ve done a Bits and Pieces quilt, the Butterfly quilt, Trip Around the World quilt and the Courthouse Steps quilt just to name a few.”

Mills said she just began quilting in the last five to six years. Her mother, Lorene Bargo Griffith, “dabbled” in several different types of crafts.

“She was always doing these things as I grew up,” said Mills. “She made quilts and sewed most of my clothes when I was growing up. My mother and my grandmother, Myrtle Bargo, inspired me to be a seamstress. My grandmother, Camille Griffith, from Alabama, was also a seamstress, so it runs in the family.”

Mills’ other hobbies include cooking, doing things with her children and grandchildren, camping and hiking.

She is a Hall High School alumni.

“Before retiring I worked almost 17 years at the Walmart Pharmacy,” said Mills. “I was the over the counter manager retiring in 2006. Prior to that I worked almost eight years in the business office at the Daniel Boone Clinic. I also worked at TG&Y and Coast to Coast stores that used to be here in Harlan.”

Mills said one thing she has discovered as she has grown older is the need to stay active. She said the Harlan County Extension Office offers a large array of clubs and workshops for people of all ages.

“I’d like to see teenagers participating in quilting, book and cooking clubs,” said Mills. “Theresa Howard is a wonderful agent. She teaches and guides us in so many different things. Something new comes up, she learns how to do it and then teaches us. It’s not old things, it’s new and current things. The opportunity is here. Everyone just needs to come out and participate. I think they’ll be glad they did.”

Born and raised in Catrons Creek, Mills and her husband Aaron have three sons and nine grandchildren.

Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or at nsizemore@heartlandpublications.com