Mills & Mills Funeral Home

Mills & Mills Funeral Home & Memorial Park, located at 5725 Littlerock Road SW in Tumwater, Washington, has been a cornerstone of compassionate end-of-life care since 1901. The business traces its roots to William R. Whiteside, an undertaker from St. Louis who built the original facility at 414 S. Franklin Street in Olympia. After several ownership changes, it was acquired by Jesse T. Mills in 1915. Jesse, a colorful figure who served as city sheriff from 1900 to 1903 and mayor from 1917 to 1920, brought his nephew Arley D. Mills into the business in 1919, and together they renamed it Mills & Mills Funeral Home. The historic Franklin Street building served the community until the 2001 Nisqually earthquake caused substantial damage, prompting a move to Olympic Memorial Gardens. A new facility was dedicated on September 11, 2005, at its current location. Today, as part of the Dignity Memorial network, Mills & Mills offers a full range of services including traditional funerals, memorial services, cremation, water cremation, and human composting—an innovative, eco-friendly option that transforms the body into nutrient-rich soil. The funeral home features a warm, welcoming environment with a spacious chapel equipped with advanced video and audio capabilities, a full kitchen, and a generous foyer suitable for both large gatherings and intimate services. The professional staff provides one-on-one personalized care to honor each family's wishes and budget, backed by a 100% service guarantee. The sister location, Mills & Mills Memorial Park, is a serene 32-acre cemetery designed to showcase the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Only 18 acres are currently developed, featuring ten distinct gardens for ground burial, a mausoleum for above-ground entombment, and multiple niche walls for cremation urn placement. The park is meticulously maintained by a full-time, year-round crew and is home to an 88-foot-tall American chestnut tree—the largest healthy specimen of its species in the United States—along with giant sequoias, maples, and pines. Mills & Mills is a Level One founding community partner with the We Honor Veterans program, ensuring that veterans and their families receive the benefits and dignified service they deserve. The funeral home also offers prepayment plans with lifetime flexibility and relocation protection across Dignity Memorial providers. Community events, such as a Memorial Day program, Halloween countdown to candy, and the Light the Night luminary event, bring comfort and connection to grieving families. With a 4.7-star rating on Google from 166 reviews, Mills & Mills Funeral Home & Memorial Park continues its century-long tradition of trust, integrity, and compassionate care for the Tumwater and Olympia communities.