Mildred Pauline (“Millie”) MacMillan
Mildred Pauline (“Millie”) MacMillan, our beloved mother and grandmother, went to be with her Lord on the morning of Tuesday, January 19, 2021, bringing her remarkably long battle with recurrent acute myeloid leukemia (AML) gracefully to a close.
Millie was born in Peoria, Arizona on February 1, 1933 to Eva May Smith Senseman and Warren Luders Senseman. Spirited and uncommonly bright, she was the only daughter in a farming and ranching family with seven children. Having begun first grade a year early by sneaking onto the school bus, Millie graduated from Peoria High School in 1950 and went on to Arizona State University (then Arizona State College), where she was elected Campus Queen of 1953 and served in various student leadership positions.
In her senior year, Millie met Richard (“Dick”) MacMillan, a young physician from Philadelphia who was completing his internship at Good Samaritan Hospital. The two quickly fell in love and married in June of 1954, shortly after Millie graduated with a degree in elementary education. The couple made their first home in Philadelphia, where Dick completed his medical residency and Millie taught first grade until their son Rick was born the following year. Missing the Arizona sunshine, the couple soon returned to Phoenix, where they would spend the rest of their lives. They welcomed their daughter, Karen, in 1958 and their second son, Robert, in 1962.
Although Millie’s first loyalties were to her faith and family, she also put her boundless energy and tenacity to use in the competent service of many community organizations, including the Junior League of Phoenix, Valley Riding Club, The Board of Visitors, and Bible Study Fellowship. All three MacMillan children, together with their spouses, chose to remain in Arizona as adults, and Millie and Dick delighted in watching their seven grandchildren grow up, frequently hosting the entire family for dinner at their home on Sunday evenings. They were also avid travelers, especially in their later years, and they passed on their cosmopolitan sense of adventure to their children and grandchildren by taking the whole family (“MacMillan, party of 15!”) to see their favorite sites abroad.
Millie was preceded in death by her parents, Warren and Eva; three brothers, Warren Jr., Bill, and Paul; and her beloved husband of over 65 years, Richard MacMillan. She is survived by three remaining brothers, Wayne, Ed, and Henry; her three children, Rick (Pam), Karen (Michael Perry), and Robert (Hazel); her seven grandchildren, Ian MacMillan, Scottie MacMillan, Caroline Perry (Luke Stetson), Michael M. Perry, Katy MacMillan, Millie E. MacMillan, and Bobby MacMillan; and two great-grandchildren, Jack and Kingsley.
A private burial was held in January with arrangements by Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home. All are welcome to join our family in honoring Millie’s memory at a public memorial service this Saturday, May 8, 2:00 p.m. at Camelback Bible Church.