OREM — The composer of one of the most popular LDS Church children's songs — a uniquely Mormon alternative to "Happy Birthday" — has died.

Mildred Millett McNees, 81, who penned "Happy, Happy Birthday," died Sunday, Dec. 17, 2006, in Orem.

The longtime piano teacher wrote the words and music to her song in 1963. Mrs. Millett NcNees' song was found in a survey to be one of the most popular among children belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to the book, "Our Children's Songs," by Virginia B. Cannon.

The song was written while she was married to the late Howard Freestone Millett, who died in 1968 after the couple had four sons together. They lived in Long Beach, Calif., and Albuquerque, N.M.

She moved to Orem in 1970 and married George Emerson McNees in October 1986.

Singers of the catchy song are encouraged to replace the word "children" with the name of a child at the start, which reads, "Happy, happy birthday, children dear ... "

The song closes with the lines, "If I had one wish, then it would be/A happy, happy birthday to you from me!"

In the appendix of Cannon's book, the song is listed as eighth among the top 12 "familiar" titles that were part of the "Top-rated Songs" in the 1983 survey. Under the survey's "frequently sung" category, "Happy, Happy Birthday" came in at sixth among the top 12.

Mrs. Millett McNees was described in Cannon's book as someone who "displayed a great love of music at an early age." The book adds that her father died when she was 7 and there was no money for music lessons. "A grade-school teacher intervened and generously gave of her time and talents to teach her to play the piano," according to the book.

At one time, she ran a dance studio in California and taught piano in Albuquerque and Orem. She had as many as 60 students at a time.

In Cannon's book Mrs. Millett McNees is quoted, "I'm grateful for the beautiful gift of music that God has given to us to uplift and edify us in numerous ways."

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Orem Park Stake Center, 195 W. 300 South, Orem. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Sundberg-Olpin Mortuary, 495 S. State, Orem, and from 9 to 9:40 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will be Dec. 29 in Mesa, Ariz.

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E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com