Grady Charles McMillan

Grady Charles McMillan of Ben Hur, TX passed away at home on February 4, 2018. He was born on January 12, 1921 to George Henry and Sarah Louisa Ellison McMillan in Kirk, Texas. Grady was a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great grandfather. He was preceded in death by his wife, Iola, on Jan. 15, 2018, parents, a baby brother, sister Emmett Schlemmer, brothers Eugene, Clarence, Tommy, and Bobby McMillan. He leaves to cherish his memory his brothers Lawrence McMillan of Burnett, Truman and wife Joyce McMillan of Marlin, sister-in-law Nina 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, Matthew McMillan of Groesbeck, great-grandchildren Chloé Halley Serrato and husband Santiago of Dallas, Maci McMillan of Waco, Asher Turner of Waco, great-great granddaughter Clara Serrato of Dallas. He also leaves an extended family of nieces and nephews. Grady grew up on a farm near Kirk, Texas. He did his share of hard work on that farm. Then came WWll. Grady joined the army. While stationed near Little Rock, Arkansas, he met a waitress, Iola Simmons. After being assigned to the 3rd Division Medical General Hospital in the Pacific arena, he received daily letters for 4 years from Iola who was being “Rosie Riveter” in Michigan on the B-24 airplanes. When WWll was over, he headed to Arkansas to marry Iola on Jan. 23, 1946. They moved to Texas and he began his life as a farmer and later rancher. Someone with work ethic is a person who gets to work on time every day and always works long days to get the job done. The key characteristics are honesty, integrity, humility, and accountability. That was Grady. On that tractor in the field before the sun rose and the tractor headlamps leading his way back home after dark. The next day would be the same routine except Sunday which was a day for church and rest. Grady was always ready to help others in the community with cattle or farm problems. He and his brother-in-law, Fred Schlemmer, spent many hours baling hay or working cattle. Later his son Johnny and grandson Jeremy became his work partners on the farm. Church was important to Grady and he passed that on to his children. He was a school board member in Ben Hur I.S.D. and Mart I.S.D. Grady had a dry sense of humor. This was also passed on to his children. Grady loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The day before Iola’s funeral, his great-great granddaughter, Clara, sensed that he needed some extra love and shared her Fruit Loops with him. He accepted with a smile. Grady loved Iola. Their recliners were next to each other. They would hold hands frequently, even after 72 years of marriage. Iola passed away on Jan. 15. As Grady’s great niece, Dedra, explained it. “He closed his eyes here and opened them up on the other side with Aunt Iola chattering away...filling him in on everything he’s missed...and the hereafter. I can just see him smiling that slow smile at her...back together again.” Grady will be missed by all that knew him during his 97 years of life. A funeral service for Grady McMillan will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 9, 2018 in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel 1215 E. Yeagua St. Groesbeck, Texas. Visitation will be held 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2018 in the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be after the funeral service at Kirk Cemetery on FM 339. Pallbearers will be Jeremy McMillan, Doug Morris, Layne Sackett, John Schlemmer, Robert Schlemmer, and Santiago Serrato. In lieu of flowers, please send any donations in memory of Grady McMillan to Kirk Cemetery 1450 FM 339 Mart, TX 76664 or to First United Methodist Church 203 W. State St. Groesbeck, TX 76642.