Livonia, NY: Mildred “Milly” Annis was born September 29, 1932, at home in Perry, NY to Clair and Laura (Johnson) Chaffee.  She died on February 23, 2025 at the age of 92.   She was one of four children raised on a farm which cultivated her lifelong love of animals.  

Milly enjoyed a colorful life full of diverse experiences.

At age nine Milly worked her first job on the pea stack at the Curtis Burns Canning Factory in Mt. Morris for three summers.  Her dad used a 40-year-old man’s Social Security number to get her the job. She started work at 4:00 a.m. feeding and watering the mules before she could hook them up to the carts.  She would place the carts underneath the shoot to catch the pea vines after the men had pointed long pitchforks to indicate where to put the cart.  She was paid $0.50 per week and most days worked 12-13 hours.  She always worked barefoot because she only owned one pair of shoes a year and did not want to get them dirty. 

When she was 16, Milly worked at JJ Newberry’s, a Five-n-Ten store on Main Street in Perry, until she graduated from Perry High School in 1951. 

After graduation she became a bookkeeper for the GLF Farm Store (Grange League Federation which later became Agway), as well as a switchboard operator for Duracraft (Champion Products).

Once married, Milly was a stay-at-home mom for many years until she returned to the workforce. In her early years she worked for Finocchario’s sorting potatoes, followed by jobs at the Penny Saver, Eagle Crest Winery, Kemp’s Bus Service and as an Election Inspector.   Her all-time favorite job was her five years as a licensed Real Estate Broker with Nothnagel Gallery of Homes, which allowed her bubbly, friendly personality to shine.  She will most likely be remembered for her 19 years as a Rural Carrier with the US Post Office, delivering to over 600 residents each day within the Livonia area. Everyone on her route knew her by name!

Milly loved to volunteer!  In the late 1940’s she volunteered for the Civil Air Patrol which had a glass building satellite office on top of the fire department building on Main Street in Perry.   Her job was to spot planes and then notify the Civil Air Patrol Headquarters in Buffalo as to the type, size and location of the plane.  It was after WWII when the Civil Air Patrol would monitor planes within the US to ensure there were no unfriendly planes. She did this for many years until the Civil Air Patrol did not perceive any threats.

As a teenager Milly owned a 1947 Cadillac limo and volunteered with the local funeral home to take pallbearers from the funeral home to the cemetery. 

Milly delivered Meals-on-Wheels for Livingston County, was the Salvation Army coordinator/fundraiser in Livonia for 10 years, and a regular volunteer for the Livonia Food Pantry, Foodlink, the Genesee Rural Preservation Council, Livonia Historic Society and Livingston County Hospice.  She was a Brownie leader and assisted with Girl Scout troop functions.  She was one of the chairpersons for the Forrest Vosler Park and the secretary and groundkeeper for the Oakridge Cemetery in South Livonia. In 2006, she was named Livonia ‘Senior of the Year.’ 

Milly was a proud member of the Harrison Lee American Legion Auxiliary and would have marked her 50^th year membership celebration this year.  

Most of all Milly’s colorful life centered around the love she had for her family, friends and a good outing or party, especially if it involved playing cards and board games. She brought the fun wherever she went!

Milly was predeceased by her husband Almon ‘Gus’ Annis and her siblings.   She is survived by her stepson James (Joan) Annis and children Elizabeth (Don) Thorne, Barbara (Bob) Lemen and Jeffrey (Brenda) Annis, as well as grandchildren Patty Years, Molly Hammond, Briania (Jeff) Bennett-Colavecchia, Brittney Bennett, Toni Bennett (Daryl Martin), Chelsea (Eric) Castle, Amanda and Holly Thorne, step-grandchildren Allyse (Tyler) Brant and Colin Lemen along with several great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.    

Special thanks to the staff at the Conesus Lake Nursing Home for the amazing care they provided her.  

Friends and family are invited to call from 1-3pm on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at the Kevin W. Dougherty Funeral Home, 21 Big Tree Street in Livonia, where Milly’s Memorial Service will immediately follow at 3pm.   Burial to follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery, Livonia, NY. Following the cemetery service there will be a reception at the Harrison Lee Post 283 American Legion Hall in Livonia Center.  

Memorial contributions can be made to the South Livonia United Church of Christ, 5087 South Livonia Road, Livonia, NY 14487. To send a condolence or share a memory please visit: www.doughertyfuneralhomes.com