Iola S. McMillan

Iola Simmons McMillan of Ben Hur, Texas passed away on January 15, 2018. Visitation will be held 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Friday, January 19, 2018 in the Groesbeck Funeral Home chapel. A funeral service for Iola McMillan will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 20, 2018 in the Groesbeck Funeral Home chapel 1215 E. Yeagua St. Groesbeck, TX. Reverend Steve Nance of the First United Methodist Church of Groesbeck will officiate. Interment will be after the funeral service at Kirk Cemetery on FM 339. Pallbearers will be Jeremy McMillan, Santiago Serrato, Greg Downes, Doug Morris, Layne Sackett, and John Schlemmer. Iola was born on October 1, 1922 to Charlie Justin and Amanda Elizabeth Girtman Simmons in Fairview, Arkansas. Iola was a wonderful wife, mother, mother-in-law, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters - Louie Mae Simmons Cooper, Nova Simmons Hill, twin Iona Simmons, brothers - Leon Simmons, Olen Simmons, Clyde Simmons, and Charles Simmons. She leaves to cherish her memory her husband of 72 years Grady McMillan; sister Nina Simmons Simpson of Independence, Missouri; daughter Barbara and husband David Wright of Houston; son Johnny McMillan and wife Sharon of Groesbeck; grandchildren Tricia Wright Halley of Houston, Tina Wright Morris and husband Doug of Aubrey, Jeremy McMillan of Waco, Sarah McMillan Turner and husband Lance of Waco, Hannah McMillan of Waco, Katelyn McMillan of Groesbeck, and Matthew McMillan of Groesbeck; great-grandchildren Chloé Halley Serrato and husband Santiago of Dallas, Maci McMillan of Waco, Asher Turner of Waco; and great-great granddaughter Clara Serrato of Dallas. She also leaves brother-in-laws Truman McMillan and wife Joyce of Marlin, Lawrence McMillan of Burnett, and an extended family of nieces and nephews. Iola loved her home state Arkansas. She grew up on a farm near Cave City in a community called Fairview. She and her siblings worked hard on the farm, but had so much fun with each other. She would amaze people how she could remember those childhood times. She attended the small Fairview church, which still welcomes the community on the first Sunday of August to enjoy food and memories on Decoration Day of the cemetery. After graduating from Cave City High School, she met a cute Texan Army soldier while waiting on tables in Little Rock, Arkansas. While he left to serve the Pacific arena during WWII, she went to Michigan to help build B-24 bomber airplanes. She was a “Rosie Riveter”. After writing daily letters for 4 years to that Texas soldier, Grady came to Arkansas to marry her on January 23, 1946. They moved to Texas and purchased land to farm and later ranch. Iola loved to garden, cook, sew, crochet, word puzzles, and talk about Arkansas memories. She loved her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great granddaughter. Iola always spoke positive about everyone. She and Grady were members of Methodist churches in Kirk, Ben Hur, and Mart. Iola worked at Mexia State School for 10 years. She also worked in the tax office in Groesbeck and later was a voting judge for Ben Hur. Iola will be missed by all that knew her during her 95 years of life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Iola McMillan to Kirk Cemetery 1450 FM 339 Mart, TX 76664, Limestone Medical Center 701 McClintic Dr. Groesbeck, TX 76642, First United Methodist Church 203 W. State St. Groesbeck, TX 76642.