Mildred Loudean Milligan

Mildred Loudean Milligan, 87, of Pampa went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Graveside services will be 2:00 PM on Saturday, November 14, 2020 at Fairview Cemetery with Rev. Lonny Robbins and Pastor Paul Nachtigall, pastor of Highland Baptist Church, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors.

Mildred Loudean, Millie as she was affectionately called, was born on December 23, 1932 in Spencerville, OK in Choctaw County to Clarence and Thelma Adcock Fatherree. Born during the heart of the Great Depression, she was the third of nine children. They lived in a small 4 room house and grew their own vegetables to survive. The family lived a hard life sharecropping and picking cotton or “pulling bolls” as they called it. Mildred had to quit school during the 7^th grade to help take care of her six younger siblings. She loved all her siblings dearly; J.W., Merk, Charles “Sonny”, Leon, Jean, Maxine, Willie, and Curt. Growing up poor, Mildred had very little money for dolls, so she made her own creations called “Cob Kids” out of corn husks from her family’s corn patch, she would make their clothes and use her father’s shoes as their cars. Later in life she still enjoyed making paper dolls and dressing them up. Mildred met the love of her life, Billy Ray Milligan, through her brother Merk. Billy asked Mildred’s father for her hand marriage in the middle of a cotton field. They were married on October 10, 1950 in Vernon, they would have celebrated 61 years together the year of Billy’s passing. Their honeymoon was spent working in the cotton fields to make enough money to start their life together. Billy and Mildred’s first purchase was 2 plates, 2 forks, and spoons. They didn’t even have enough money for wedding rings until Bill returned from war. Mildred lived with her parents during that time and when Bill returned, they moved to the Texas panhandle. They settled in Pampa in 1952 and began starting their family. They were met with difficult times when their daughter, Kathy Gay Milligan, passed away in 1955 after living only two short days. Mildred and Bill completed their family when their two sons were born, Aubrey in 1958 and Randy in 1960. Mildred was a woman of immense faith, praying over her family every day. “Isaiah 40:11 - He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” She took her two boys to church frequently and even though they hated dressing up, she bought them nice clothes and Buster Brown shoes. When Mildred had grandchildren, she continued that tradition making sure they had proper shoes. She would take her grandsons, Brandon and Ryan, to M.E. Moses and when they had found what they wanted they hollered “Mildred!” and everyone knew who she was. She would often pick up her last grandchild, Jake, from school and take him to McDonald’s for a large order of fries. Shortly before entering the nursing home, Mildred had brain surgery, being the strong-willed woman she was, she taught herself to walk again and the first place she went was to her grandson, Brandon’s wedding. A few years later, she taught herself how to drive again, unbeknownst to her family. She showed up at her grandson’s house and when asked “What she thought she was doing?” She replied, “I’m here to see my great-grandbaby.” Mildred’s favorite bible verse was Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” She will be remembered as loving mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend.

Mildred was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her daughter, Kathy Gay Milligan; 2 brothers, J.W. Fatherree and Charles “Sonny” Fatherree; and a brother-in-law, James Pierce.

She is survived by her 2 sons, Aubrey Milligan and wife Vanessa and Randy Milligan and Bonita all of Pampa; 3 grandsons, Brandon Milligan and wife Lexi, Ryan Milligan and wife Jessica, and Jake Milligan; 5 great-grandchildren, Johnathan, Lisia, Ezekiel, Natalie, and Channing; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Pampa Nursing Center, 1321 W Kentucky Ave, Pampa, TX, 79065.