Mary Lou McMillin 1939-2025
LIVERMORE, Calif. — It is with both sadness and gratitude that I share the passing of Mary Lou McMillin. She died peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, June 7, 2025, after a long and courageous journey with Parkinson’s disease. She was 86.
Mary Lou was born Feb. 21, 1939, in Meadville, Pa., to Neil and Mildred Erickson, and grew up in Southington. She was one of 10 siblings: sisters, Rita, Alice, Shirley, Judy, Bonnie and Ruthie; and brothers, Sonny, Donald and Neil “Butch.” She graduated from Chalker High School, where she was a proud majorette.
She began her career as a methods lab technician at Packard Electric and later worked as an orthodontist assistant. She approached her work with care and dedication, but her greatest pride was always her family.
She married Fred in 1967 and built a life filled with love, family and shared adventures. Mary Lou was the heart of our home, raising three sons, James, Richard and John, and later became a proud grandmother to six grandsons, Jacob, Aaron, Brandon, Alan, Owen and Lucas.
Mary Lou was always on the move. She loved biking, roller and ice skating, bowling, painting, skiing and even motorcycle riding. She traveled to 49 states and visited Italy, Canada and Mexico with family and friends.
She was deeply involved in the P. Buckley Moss Society, where she served as board president and helped raise significant funds for children’s education through a special cookbook featuring Pat Moss’ artwork.
She spent her final months at Quail Garden in Livermore, where she received kind and compassionate care.
Mary Lou will be remembered as a devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother, a loyal friend and a woman who embraced life fully.
If you’d like to honor her, please consider a gift to Blue Oaks Church, blueoaks.church/give/; or the P. Buckley Moss Foundation for Children’s Education, www.mossfoundation.org.
(special notice)