Rose Marie McMillan

Rose Marie McMillan of Lockhart, formerly of Saturn Community in Gonzales County was born on Sept. 17, 1938, and died of lung cancer on Sept. 18, 2005, in Lockhart, Texas. She was the second child of Farris and Marie McMillan.
Rose was a 1956 graduate of Waelder High School and went on to graduate from Seton School of Nursing in 1959. Upon graduating she was employed i

n several area hospitals before entering the United States Air Force as a first Lieutenant and was assigned to duty the 337th USAF hospital in Portland, Ore. Health problems forced her from the service with a medical discharge.
Haunted by depression and other illnesses though out her life, she found solace in books and became knowledgeable about many subjects. She was an avid reader interested in the political situation in our country as well as countries abroad. She relished the opportunities she had to discuss her views with anyone who dared to participate in such a conversation with her. Pride in her Scottish heritage led her to explore Scotland”s history and people. Her store of recipe books grew as did her interest in cooking. Most visitors never left her home without homemade jelly, breads or some type of cake. She studied organic gardening and worked in her small vegetable garden even after she was confined to a wheelchair and when she could no longer to live alone, she continued to garden in containers at the nursing home. Rose loved feeding her birds and attending to stray cats.
Preceding her in death are her parents and her brother and his wife, Tom and Sherry McMillan.
Survivors include her sister and her husband, Laura and Joe Kelly of Lockhart; two nieces, Andrea Theriot and husband Ed of Lockhart, Allison Butler and husband Steven of Katy; and one nephew, Marshall Kelly and wife Shelley of Lockhart. Also surviving are a great-nephew, Joey Theriot, and four great-nieces, Kelly and Alyse Butler and Kailee and Madison Kelly.
The family would like to thank the staff of Chisolm Trail Nursing and Rehab for their care and for allowing her the privilege of gardening and continuing her life as normal as possible.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday at McCurdy Funeral Home in Lockhart.
A private family memorial service will follow in the future.
To honor her memory, feed the birds, adopt an abandoned animal, or make a contribution to Cause for Paws, 214 Bufkin Ln., Lockhart, Texas, or a charity of your choice.