Mildred Boutwell Horton, 86, of Montgomery, Alabama, passed away Saturday, December 22, 2012, at her daughter's home in Adel, Georgia. Mrs. Horton was born April 12, 1926 in Montgomery, Alabama, to the late John Eunice Boutwell and Annie Lynn Coker Boutwell. She spent 17 years as a civil servant with Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, and her entire adult life in service to her community and her family. She was a member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, Alabama.

Mrs. Horton was lovingly supportive of her children's activities as they grew up even as she was being very active in many organizations such as the P.T.A., League of Women Voters, Partners of the Americas, and a host of other organizations. She was also a long time member of the International Toastmistress Club and was elected president of the Dixie Region in 1982.

After part time studies in her earlier years at the University of Alabama, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University at Montgomery in 1981. As a member of so many organizations over the years, she recognized the critical need for the observance of proper parliamentary procedures in most of them. She pursued education in that area for several years and earned the designation of Professional Registered Parliamentarian. As a member of the Boards of Directors of numerous organizations, her knowledge of parliamentary procedure was invaluable. She was often employed as the official parliamentarian for meetings of such groups as the Alabama State P.T.A., National Criminal Justice Association, Alabama State Board of Education, and Alabama State Nurses Association, to mention a few.

Mrs. Horton had a life long interest in genealogy and worked steadily at developing all possible family history. She was on the board of the Alabama Genealogical Society in the late 1980's, and was a member of the Montgomery Genealogical Society several years prior to that.

She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Reginald "Shorty" and Dot Piel of Milton, Florida; one daughter and son-in-law, Lynn and Jerry Connell of Adel, Georgia; five grandchildren: Chris and Donna Piel of Hope Hull, Alabama; Edward and Melissa Lash of Buford, Georgia; Mary Beth Lash of Atlanta, Georgia; and four great grandchildren: Blake and Brandon Piel of Hope Hull, Alabama; and, Katherine and Madeline Lash of Buford, Georgia.

Mrs. Horton was preceded in death by her second husband of 29 years, Lt. Colonel (R) J.J. Horton, also her first husband, the late Judge Matthis W. Piel, and one son, Richard Piel, all of Montgomery, Alabama.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, December 27, 2012, at Forest Hills Memorial Park, 9504 US Hwy 331 South, Montgomery, Alabama.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.boonefunerals.com. Boone Funeral Home of Adel, Georgia, is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please honor the memory of Mrs. Mildred B. Horton by sending a donation to Chemical Addictions Program, Inc., 1153 Air Base Blvd, Montgomery, Alabama 36108.

Published in the Montgomery Advertiser on December 24, 2012