Bob Mills, the Oklahoma businessman who founded Bob Mills Furniture, passed away at the age of 79, with his family announcing the news on Monday. His passing has brought renewed attention to his journey from a young entrepreneur to the founder of a regional furniture retail chain. Behind that success was the support of his parents, Jim Mills and Lorean Mills, particularly his mother, who provided the financial assistance that helped him establish his first store.
Born in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947, Mills was the only child of Jim and Lorean. His family relocated to Oklahoma City when he was 13 years old. Although his father passed away before he entered the furniture industry, his mother’s decision to invest in his business became a defining moment in his career.
Who Were Bob Mills’ Parents?
Bob Mills’ parents were Jim Mills and Lorean Mills. The couple initially raised their son in Roswell, New Mexico, before moving to Oklahoma City around 1960.
Mills attended Putnam City High School and graduated in 1965. He later enrolled at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, where he studied business and music.
His father, Jim, passed away when Mills was just 19 years old. The loss left Lorean widowed while her son was still pursuing his education.
Publicly available biographical accounts provide limited information about Jim and Lorean’s occupations or personal backgrounds. However, Lorean’s involvement in her son’s early business plans is well documented.
His Mother Lorean Mills Helped Start Bob Mills Furniture
Lorean Mills played a particularly important role in establishing the company that would eventually become Bob Mills Furniture.
After graduating from college in 1969, Mills worked as a clerk typist, earning approximately $400 per month. He was interested in starting his own business but lacked the necessary capital.
A conversation with an acquaintance who had experience in furniture retail convinced him that approximately $25,000 would be enough to open a store.
Mills approached his mother with the idea and asked whether she would lend him the money.
Lorean agreed, but she treated the arrangement as a business investment rather than a gift. She expected her son to repay the loan and provide a return on her money.
With that financial support, Mills opened his first furniture store on July 3, 1971, in a former grocery store at 2625 Southwest 29th Street in Oklahoma City.
The investment became the starting point of a business that would operate for more than five decades.
His Father Jim Mills Passed Away During His Youth
Jim Mills was Bob Mills’ father, but relatively little information about his professional life has been publicly documented.
According to the company’s history, Jim passed away when Bob was 19, approximately two years after he graduated from high school.
His passing occurred before Bob completed his university education and several years before the furniture business opened.
The loss meant that Lorean became the parent directly involved in supporting her son’s entrepreneurial ambitions.
Although Jim did not live to witness the company’s development, his name remains part of the founder’s documented family background.
Bob Mills Built a Furniture Business Across Three States
Following his mother’s investment, Mills gradually expanded his business beyond its original Oklahoma City location.
In 1973, he introduced the Bob Mills Furniture Country television show, combining entertainment with advertising. The program helped establish his public identity and attracted customers.
The company later became recognizable through its advertising slogan, “The Working Man’s Friend.”
During the late 1980s, Mills relocated the business to a larger facility on West Reno Avenue in Oklahoma City.
By its 55th anniversary in 2026, Bob Mills Furniture operated 12 stores across Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas.
The company also employed more than 400 people and ranked among the country’s 100 largest furniture retailers.
Bob Mills’ Wife and Children Continue His Family Business
Bob Mills was married to Margaret Mills, and the couple had three children: Bryan, Tuesday and Chris.
All three became involved in the family furniture business, continuing the tradition of family participation that began with Lorean’s original investment.
Mills’ grandson, Brayden Dyson, also joined the company and gained experience in several operational roles.
Following Mills’ passing on November 9, 2026, his family released a statement recognizing his contributions to the business and confirming that its stores would continue operating.
The company’s history remains closely connected to Lorean Mills, whose $25,000 loan gave her son the opportunity to establish his first furniture store in 1971.
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