Mildred Lilly was born January 31, 1918, in Safford, Arizona to Wallace John Lilly and Pauline Coplan. She was the fourth of Wallace and Pauline's eleven children: Flora, Oren Bruce, Iva Pearl, Mildred, Lawrence Willis, Irene, Clytia Mae, Ralph George, Max C., Peggy Jean, and Doreen.

Mildred was very close to her family while growing up. Her father, Wallace was her hero. He could do everything and fix anything. Her mother, Pauline was a licensed practical nurse and registered midwife. She worked in the White Mountains of Arizona which required being away from family, which helped Mildred to become independent and self-reliant. Mildred also loved her brothers and sisters. Oren was also her hero and she always said he could fix things just like her dad. Her sisters were her best friends. This was especially true of Iva because they were closer in age. They were dangerous when playing jokes on one another, and you could never tell who would get the best of the other. Mildred's favorite was putting ice on Iva while she was asleep.

While growing up, Clytia, Peggy, and Doreen had the opportunity or misfortune depending on if they got in trouble, to stay with Mildred.

Mildred loved to dance during her teenage years. Many of the letters, between her and her future husband, were about saving a dance for him. She married Leslie Ronald Adair on March 1, 1934, in Snowflake, Arizona. Leslie's nickname was Snooks. He and Mildred had seven children: Delbert William, Cleo, Gwendolyn, Ronald Edward, Ina Clair, Thelma Jean, and Lawrence Douglas. They lived in Pinetop, Arizona, and with the help of John Adair and Wallace Lilly, they built their own house, including some of the furniture. Mildred helped to support her family by working as a cashier at the local grocery store during the day and was a waitress at night. She worked at the popular Charlie Clark's Steak House in Pinetop. She also took in laundry for extra income.

Mildred was a great homemaker. She cooked, canned, sewed, and her house was always spotless. She made the best homemade bread in the world. One day a neighbor smelled her bread baking and came to her door to complain how unfair it was to try working in the yard with the aroma of bread baking. She gave him a loaf to take home as she always made an ample amount.

When Snooks died in 1951, Mildred was widowed with six children ranging in age from four to sixteen years old. She moved to the Phoenix area and worked at Goodyear Aircraft. While working at Goodyear she put herself through business school and took in laundry to help pay the bills.

After graduation, she moved from Goodyear to Phoenix and worked at Big Bear Realty on East Thomas Road. She earned her brokers license and worked with her Aunt Cleo Coplan Lee in real estate. The next job for Mildred was in the Maricopa County Superior Court as a Court Clerk. She retired from this job after nine and a half years. Even at age sixty-two, she continued to keep her house orderly and help take care of her grandchildren. After retirement, she started sewing again and crocheted six bed spreads for her children and made one for each of her twenty-six grandchildren. She told them she had sewn a special blessing into each one to keep them from harm.

Mildred was very dedicated to her family. She would give all she had if necessary to help take care of her family. She loaned her car to grandsons for dates and gave of herself in countless ways.

Mildred earned her own way in life and never asked for help. Her grandchildren will tell you about the work ethics she tried to instill in them. They called her the "warden" and "Grambo" as she always expected them to work along side her. Her son Delbert once said, "She will not let herself or anybody else rest."

In rare times, she was not working she loved to play cards and bingo. She always had to keep busy and felt working was a privilege. Despite her many trials, her favorite song was "When Upon Life's Billows." This song states "Count your many blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings, see what God hath done."

Mildred passed away on July 1, 1997, in Scottsdale, Arizona. She will be remembered as a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother.