Kathryn Ann McMillion : Sept 21, 1943 - Oct 14, 2007

January 16th, 2007

A computer crash in November meant that I needed to get a new software program for the website, I'm finally getting a chance to do this page for my mom. I wanted to put some photos up, as well as mention a few things:

1) My mom's birthday (Sept 21st) is going to be Tex-Mex night in our house. Feel free to join in (shame everyone is scattered, or we could have one big chili cook-off).

2) Back in High School I worked at a restaurant. One of the other people that worked there asked me my mom's name. When I told her she said "Your mom's been helping me with my reading at the library on Saturdays"....and I hadn't known that my mom was doing that.

3) During the service, my Uncle David mentioned the image he had of seeing my mom as a baby sleeping in her mother's cotton sack (over her mom's shoulder in the fields)...

4) My mom saw so many new things and loved to embrace the new technology in her lifetime (and I remember her mom talking about when she saw her first car - driven by the town doctor). Makes you wonder how different things will be for Ailsa and Angus when they're my age.

5) I must say that Paul and I had quite a surreal conversation about what music we'd have at our funerals....never a fun topic, and it got a bit surreal (Let's do the Time Warp anyone)....but I guess having these conversations is important...but prob best not to bring it up at, say, Valentine's day, or Christmas Eve....

	I think this was the dress she bought in Paris during the time my parents were living in England (69-71)
	I also think this was taken around 69-71....
	From our wedding in March 2003.
	My mom and Ailsa in on Jan 13, 2007...almost a year ago today as I type this (on Jan 16, 2008). We planned a layover in Atlanta after visiting Jeff and Loren in Orlando - so we had a chance to meet up before our flight back to London.

The Ceremony was great and here are the songs / etc that were put into the program:

Not In Vein If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain: If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain. - Emily Dickinson

The sweetest sounds to mortals given Are heard in Mother, Home, and Heaven. -William Goldsmith Brown

All Things Must Pass - Lyrics by George Harrison

Sunrise doesn't last all morning
A cloudburst doesn't last all day
Seems my love is up and has left you with no warning
It's not always going to be this grey

All things must pass
All things must pass away

Sunset doesn't last all evening
A mind can blow those clouds away
After all this, my love is up and must be leaving
It's not always going to be this grey

All things must pass
All things must pass away
All things must pass
None of life's strings can last
So, I must be on my way
And face another day

Now the darkness only stays the night-time
In the morning it will fade away
Daylight is good at arriving at the right time
It's not always going to be this grey
All things must pass All things must pass away
All things must pass All things must pass away

Life Uncommon - lyrics by Jewel

Don't worry mother, it'll be alright
And don't worry sister, say your prayers and sleep tight
It'll be fine lover of mine
It'll be just fineLend your voices only to sounds of freedom
No longer lend you strength to that which you wish to be free from
Fill your lives with love and bravery
And you shall lead a life uncommon
I've heard your anguish
I've heard your hearts cry out
We are tired, we are weary, but we aren't worn out
set down your chains, 'til only faith remains
Set down your chains
And lend your voices only to sounds of freedom
No longer lend your strength to that
which you wish to be free from
Fill your lives with love and bravery
And we shall lead a life uncommon
There are plenty of people who pray for peace
But if praying were enough it would have come to be
Let your words enslave no one and the heavens will hush themselves
To hear our voices ring out clear
with sounds of freedom
sounds of freedom
Come on you unbelievers, move out of the way
there is a new army coming and we are armed with faith
To live, we must give
To live
And lend our voices only to sounds of freedom
No longer lend our strength to that which we wish to be free from
Fill your lives with love and bravery
And we shall lead...
Lend our voices only to sounds of freedom
No longer lend our strength to that which we with to be free from
Fill your lives with love and bravery
And we shall lead a life uncommon

Archive of Postings from main page:

October 30th, 2007

We've just gotten home from Texas and are still unpacking and trying to get used to the time difference. It has been a long 2 weeks and we want to thank everyone for their hugs, kind words and thoughts. The funeral was lovely, and I think the music I picked worked very well (thanks Liz and Loren for the suggestions). I'll be making a photo page of my mom soon. The principal of a school my mom recently taught at was able to attend - the principal's grandmother had been my mom's 5th grade teacher in Midlothian, TX.  There was also a lovely memorial service at Ft. Benning (GA) where my mom had been working.

October 16th, 2007

We received the sad news of my mother's passing on Sunday, October 14th. While there is never a good time for something like this to happen, it is such a shame that she never got to come to London and meet Angus (Boris) this Christmas as planned. We're still in the process of arranging the funeral. The Midlothian Funeral Home (Midlothian, TX) will be taking care of arrangements (972) 723-9884. The funeral of Kathryn Ann McMillion will be taking place on Saturday, October 27th at 2 pm : 200 East Ave. E, Midlothian, Texas 76065 [map].  After the service we will go to a relative's house nearby. Everyone has been so wonderful and helpful as we try to sort everything out.

In lieu of flowers, we are asking for donations to Reading is Fundamental (RIF). This reflects my mom's love of literature and work in education (website).