My Mother Passed Away

peacefully Monday afternoon after a short hospitalization that was very painful and confusing for her and often harrowing for us all.  We only learned late Sunday night that she was so much more ill  than anyone, including her doctors, at first realized. Her rapid decline Monday was stunning and heartbreaking. My brother and his wife manage to book the last 2 seats on the first flight out of LA to DFW Monday morning and thankfully made it to the hospital in time. Although Mom, who had been telling the nurse about her family and her son in California earlier had suddenly gone totally unresponsive as my sister and I were talking to her an hour or so later, when Jim arrived and asked her to squeeze her hand, she did. I am so thankful for that, so we all had the opportunity to tell her how very much we loved her. All of Mom's children and grandchildren were with her as she passed. Here is the obituary my father prepared (he has been a genealogist for over 20 years and is proud of Mom's ancestry and pre-Texas and Texas heritage - it's a bit redacted for privacy):

 

Helen Dorrace (Taylor) McMillen, who died at 3:30 PM Monday, 27 Jun 2011, at Arlinton Memorial Hospital, Arlington, Texas, was born {in} 1926 in Burnet, Burnet County, Texas, to Anthony Taylor and his wife, Edna Birdwell. Helen married, on 7 Feb 1947, James M “Jim” McMillen, at the home of Jim's parents in Fort Worth. 

    Helen was allowed to die with dignity, of multiple causes, shortly after life-support lines and tubes were removed. Her husband and all her children and grandchildren observed her death. Helen was dearly loved by Jim and all her descendants, and she quietly returned their love twice over.  

    Helen was a volunteer. She started in her high school library, taught Sunday School and worked in Vacation Bible School, was active in PTA while her children were in school and was president of PTAs at all public school levels, including a year as president of the Arlington City Council of PTAs. She worked with a free blood-typing program and an immunization program, both for elementary school children, and for 23 years was a volunteer for, and president several times of, the local chapter of CONTACT, a free telephone counseling service. She was a leader of Cub Scouts and Webelows of the Boy Scouts and, for 12 years, a leader of  Blue Birds and Camp Fire Girls. Until 2008, when she began having serious back problems, she volunteered in several capacities at Arlington Memorial Hospital. Helen was Tarrant County Senior Volunteer of the Year in 1991 and received a J C Penney award a while later. Her art was in sewing and counted cross-stitch. 

    She was a descendant of the Caddo Indians and early Spanish settlers of far East Texas, of the first individual German known to have lived in Texas, and of the first known German family in Texas.

    Surviving are her husband and three children: Linda McMillen of Arlington, Betty Brett and husband Richard of Carrollton, and James A McMillen and wife Kathy of Pasadena, California. Her three grandchildren are: Alan McDonald, with wife Denise, of Fort Worth and their four sons; Dwayne McDonald, with wife Carie of Coppell, their daughter and son; and Heather McMillen and husband Dan Daniels of Euless.

    If friends prefer not to send flowers, contributions would be welcomed by Arlington Charities or the Salvation Army-Arlngton Corps.