Kathryn McMillen

Kathryn Thomas Smith “Katy” McMillen died Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, in Tampa, Fla., where she lived with her daughter and son-in-law. She was 81 years old. Born March 2, 1931, in Dallas, to John Allen Higgins Smith and Margaret Coke Howard, Katy was the youngest of five children.

She graduated as Valedictorian of her high school in 1948 and attended the University of Tex

as on the Plan II program. There she met her husband, John Lee McMillen, from Amarillo, Texas, and earned a Masters Degree in Texas History.

Katy was an active volunteer and leader with the Lockhart Irving Club, the Lockhart Little Theater, the Caldwell County Republican Party, the Texas Republican Party, Daughters of the Nile, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Social Order of the Beauceant and her local church. Katy worked full-time as a teacher for several school districts and was employed at the University of Texas until her retirement.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Howard Smith and wife, Elena; brother, John “Mac” Allen H. Smith; and brother-in-law, Roger Killingsworth.

Katy is survived by her children, Robert Lee McMillen (Lou Ann) of Plano, Texas, Kathryn (Alex) Carlene Escalona, of Tampa, Fla., and Mary Margaret McMillen, of Plano, along with seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She also is survived by her sisters, Margaret Killingsworth, of Louisiana, Mary Spillman and brother-in-law, Pat Spillman, of Dallas, sister-in-law, Tena Smith, of Houston, and sister-in-law, Lula Margaret Brisbin, and brother-in-law, Winslow Brisbin, of Spring Branch, Texas.

The memorial service for Katy will be held at McCurdy Funeral Home in Lockhart on Saturday, March 2, at 2 p.m. The family will be receiving guests at 1 p.m. She will be interred at the Prairie Lea Masonic Cemetery next to her late husband.

Arrangements are under the care and guidance of McCurdy Funeral Home, 105 E. Pecan St., Lockhart, Texas 78644 (512) 398-4791.