Shirley Millican, 81, passed away Monday, February 11.
Memorial Service: Highland Baptist Church in Waco on Saturday, February 23rd at 2pm in the chapel. Pastor John Durham will be officiating.
Shirley Ann Shumate Millican was born at home July 25, 1937. She was the second of nine children born to John and Louise Shumate. Shirley attended Malakoff High School and later McLennan Community College where she earned an Associate Degree in Nursing. She married Norman Paul Millican on July 3, 1955. They were married 57 years and had three children. Norman and Shirley moved to Waco, Texas where Norman worked at General Tire and Rubber Company for 27 years. Shirley devoted her time to her children and homemaking. She served as a Bluebird Leader, School Homeroom Mother, Sunday School Teacher, and VBS teacher. She was an accomplished seamstress and cook. She loved craft-making and often made unique Christmas and birthday gifts for family and friends. She made clothes for herself and matching shirts and dresses for her children, using the scraps for Barbie doll clothes. She crocheted baby blankets and booties and caps for her own grandbabies and to donate to the hospital nursery. Shirley completed her Nursing training at MCC, and worked at West Community Hospital, Providence Hospital, Hillcrest Hospital, Girling Home Health Care, Quality Care Nursing Home and several doctor offices before moving to Irving and working at St. Paul. Her experiences allowed her the opportunity to do case management work for both Sanus and Cigna Heath Care Insurance Companies. She volunteered to provide health screenings for refugees of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. She retired for health reasons in 2003, but continued to serve others as she was able. Shirley and Norman enjoyed traveling around with their motor home club. They loved visiting the Grand Ole Opry, Branson (MO), and the Gaither Family concerts. They served at First Baptist Irving in many capacities. Shirley was a greeter and also served on the hospitality committee. Shirley and Norman had a strong desire to minister to the people in their community. The first question they always asked people they met was, “Where do you go to church?”. They often had visitors over for lunch after church services and for meals on holidays. Her nurturing extended to grandchildren and great grandchildren. After Norman’s death in 2013, Shirley returned to Waco to live near her daughter, Andrea, and son-in-law, Garland. She joined Highland Baptist church, but her health prevented regular attendance. She watched Pastor John and Jared lead worship every Sunday on live stream. Her faith touched all those around her.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents John and Louise Shumate, her husband Norman Paul Millican, and her sister Linda Jones.
She is survived by her three children; daughter Andrea and husband Garland Nolan, son James and wife Betsy Millican, and daughter LaTonne Erlanson, grandchildren; Keith Nolan, Amy Nolan-Sadosky, Garrett and wife Amelia Nolan, Mallory and husband Zach Greer, Rebecca and husband Colin Fleming, Emily and husband Casey Stanley, Jason and wife Chrisi Erlanson, Natalie Bentsen, Hillary and husband Joshua Anderson, Laura Inocencio, and Jessica and husband Matthew Bates; 19 great-grandchildren; Logan Sparks, Hunter Baccus, Cameron Sadosky, Lily Nolan, Kate Fleming, Julia Jane Fleming, Jacob Norman Stanley, Wyatt Erlanson, Eli Erlanson, Liberty Simpson, Autumn Simpson, Lloyd M. Bentsen V, Olivia Anderson, Emma Anderson, Alexis Inocencio, Addisyn Inocencio, Lane Bates, Luke Bates, and Lawson Bates. She is also survived by brother Doyle and wife Polly Shumate, Barbara and husband Jack Hearn, Quieva and husband Glenn Williams, Mary and husband Fred Carter, brother in law John R. Jones, Wayne and wife Rebecca Shumate, Jerry Mack and wife Adabeth Shumate and Marsha and husband Philip Grant, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She left a legacy of unconditional love and grace.
Memorials may be made to the Highland Wellness Center (see link at hbcwaco.org) and put Wellness Center in the memo line.
Lake Shore Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Place of Service: ,
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I love you, Granny. Always, always. You were the very best grandmother a girl could hope for. I promise to make you proud. Give Pappy big hugs for me. I miss you so much, but I’m glad you’re Home.
Shirley and her husband, Norman (who predeceased her by six years), leave behind a rich legacy of commitment to Christ and each other. I know they will be remembered long into their children’s, grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s lives. My deepest sympathy to the family they leave behind, but I know you rest in the assurance of seeing them both again one day.
Granny, you were one of a kind. I will miss your silly sense of humor and your unconditional love and grace. You were the best grandma and great grandma to us and I will cling to the fact that I will see you again one day. I love you with my whole heart and will miss you with every breath until we meet again. Show me the sign!
So very thankful for the lives of Shirley and Norman!!! To know them was to love them and to be loved by them!! Their hearts were larger than life itself and their grace for everyone they encountered was immeasurable. I can only imagine the sweet reception she must be experiencing, with Norm leading the welcoming choir. Praying for all of you (love y’all so much) as you mourn the loss of such an amazing woman, but celebrating with you too; a life WELL LIVED this side of heaven!! Thankful Shirley is no longer suffering the woes of this world, but at PEACE and filled with everlasting JOY; with her KING and her sweet love, Norm. Love y’all dearly!!
Mrs. Shirley Ann Millican, I got the pleasure of meeting you and Pappy around 2006-2007. How I met you well, I meet your granddaughter Laura in a training class we were in together for Banking. Me and Laura clicked right away in conversation and also so I could give her the answers to the quizzes we had to take, but the instructor eventually separated us….haha!! After all that, I got hired and Laura decided banking wasn’t for her so she went in another direction, however we stayed in touch. I’m glad we did because then I got the invite to come over to your home in Irving you shared with Pappy. I remember when I got there you were in the kitchen and Pappy was sitting in his recliner. The minute I walked in you both were so welcoming and made me feel right at home, but the most beautiful thing of all was………..THE LOVE I felt from both you and Pappy on my 1st visit & Pappy was so funny. It was like I had been coming around forever. I came around a few more time to visit, and every single time it was like I was a regular. You & Pappy filled a comfort in me that I missed from my own family that didn’t live near to me in such a short amount of time. For THAT, I’m thankful that you & Pappy were so welcoming from day 1 to a stranger you didn’t even know, but welcomed me in your home like I was part of your own. Last but not least, I thank God for crossing my path with Laura’s path, because it blessed me with meeting two people who touched my heart dearly even though I didn’t see you & Pappy on a regular. Sometimes it doesn’t take much for special people (You & Pappy) to leave an everlasting imprint on your heart. #GodWorksInMysteriousWay #Thankful R.I.P Grandma & Give Pappy a hug.
I am so sorry for your loss! Your family is in our prayers! I know Laura your granny is in heaven with your pappy and they are rejoicing together !
I’ll never forget my first Sunday at First Irving. Pappy and Granny invited me to lunch, and welcomed me into the family. Over the years, I have been blessed to remember them and keep in touch with Laura and the girls. What a lovely legacy to leave behind! My prayers are with family, who will miss her sassy personality and loving spirit. Love you guys! Naomi
Women like Shirley change the world for good. Her loving and caring spirit live on in her family and the lives of untold hundreds that her life touched. Thanks be to God for her life of service.
Women like Shirley change the world for good. Her loving and caring spirit loves on in her family and the hundreds of people whose lives she touched. I give thanks to God for her life of service.
Women like Shirley change the world for good. Her loving and caring spirit loves on in her family and the hundreds of people whose lives she touched. I give thanks to God for her life of service.
Rest In Peace granny! You were the foundation of a long list of strong women. You will truly be missed. Tell pappy I said hello!
These two were an example of what it looks like to love the Lord and love your family. Shirley will be missed for sure. There has been a reunion in heaven.
It is so heartwarming seeing all of the loving pictures of Shirley and Norman on social media. Such sweet memories for you all. God blessed you all with a wonderful mom, dad, granny and pappy and their love shines through their beautiful family. We are so sorry sir you loss. As much as you all are missing them being here with you today, you will get to see him in heaven again. I hope that promise gives you some comfort. Rest In Peace Mrs. Shirley ????Love & hugs… The Swindell Family
Shirley was a very caring lady. She will be missed but know she is in a very special place with her love Norm
It is so heartwarming seeing all of the loving pictures of Shirley and Norman on social media. Such sweet memories for you all. God blessed you all with a wonderful mom, dad, granny and pappy. Their love shines through their beautiful family. We are so sorry for your loss. As much as you all are missing them being here with you today, you will get to see them in heaven again. We hope that promise gives you some comfort. Rest In Peace Mrs. Shirley ????Love & hugs… The Swindell Family
I love you, Granny! To the Moon and back and so much more. I couldn’t have asked for a better great-grandmother. You helped give me the best life I could’ve ever been given, and for that, I thank you. Thank you for making me the young woman I am today. Thank you for being the best example of how to live life, and how to do it with such grace and joy. Thank you for showing me how to care and love for others, just as you and Pappy did. Thank you for always encouraging me to strengthen my relationship with God, and to always lean on him. I will forever hold close to my heart all of your lessons, amazing stories, all of your voicemails, all of the “I love you, Bye Bye’s”, all of the “Show me the signs”????????, all of the recipes, all of the late night talks, all of the “super secret” secret missions, all of the “can you fill up my tea glass?”, all of the “how does my hair look?”, and all of the “I love you, don’t forget that”s. Thank you for always pushing me to be the best I could ever be, and to always do what I love. I won’t ever have enough room to express how grateful I am to you. I’ll do my best to make you laugh and please you up in heaven. Give Pappy a BIG hug and a kiss for me. I love you. They don’t understand how much I will miss you. I’m so happy to have been your first great-grand-baby. I always will be. I love you the mostest. Show me the sign. ❤️????
Dear Aunt Shirley, I know you will be missed greatly by many, you made such a positive impact on your family by your love for them and others. I have memories of our family coming to visit you and Uncle Norman when I was young. I will treasure those memories. So thankful you are with those you love and have missed, Uncle Norman, Grandmama, Papa and Aunt Linda. Love you. Tammy Shumate Cunningham and family.
She was so sweet and caring and loved everyone fofor who they were. She will be missed. Fly high aand look down on us ❤
Love you
My family and I count ourselves extremely fortunate to have known Mrs. Shirley and “Pappy” for so many years. What a legacy of love, faith and devotion! I will always picture Mrs. Shirley beneath a stained glass window on Sunday morning (with her Bluetooth ear piece!!!!!), sitting stately and proud as she sang to the Lord. Our gratitude extends beyond seeing Mrs. Shirley each Sunday to getting to know her family as well. God is so gracious to weave our lives together.
Our prayers go out to her family. Rest well knowing she is with Jesus (“Well, of course!” she would say.) May you be renewed each day to find the grace to smile, the strength to keep moving, and the wisdom to be still and Know.
With Love.
Granny,
You and Pappy will always hold a special place in our heart. Y’all came into our lives at a very uncertain time and gave us love and family. Everything we needed with nothing asked of us. We will always think of you, especially at Easter. Thank you for being an example of a true Christ follower so that we too may model ourselves after the One who brought us into His family, asking nothing of us either. Only that we show up. Thank you for sharing your love and your family.
Forever grateful and all our love,
Daniella (and Matt Kuzmich)
Always loved you Shirley. You always made me feel accepted and helped me “fit in”, I always loved how you would find a way to “zing” me. Just so you could see what I would do. Thanks for letting me take the girls with me down on the creek. I fell in love with your girls and the ornery boy as qell! And Norman!…it was hard to know which of you was the funniest!! What a hoot the two of you were! Please tell Momma Mae how much I miss her and love her. I will see you all again one day. Be looking out for me and. I will look for you guys. Much love!