Marvin Michael Millican

Marvin Michael Millican, age 72, beloved husband, father, brother and friend entered his heavenly home on Wednesday, August 19th, 2020 at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Beaumont, Texas. Mike was born on May 18,1948 in Henderson, Texas to Mary Jo and Marvin Millican, the youngest of three children. Mike lived in Clayton, Carthage and Corpus Christi, Texas but was primarily raised in Patterson, Louisiana which he considered his hometown and earned him honorary lifetime status (at least in his opinion) to qualify as a bona fide cajun. Mike loved everything about the cajun culture, even before it was fashionable, and celebrated the lifestyle in everything he did. He loved the food, the outdoor lifestyle, laid back approach to living and friendly people who never met a stranger. I think his dream life would have been living on the bayou fishing from his porch and using a pirogue for transportation. In fact, after Hurricane Rita hit and we were without power for over two weeks, we had to do all our cooking outside on the grill and our pool eventually turned greenish black. All it needed was an alligator. He loved every minute of it, imagining he was living his dream on the bayou in Louisiana. I think I saw a tear in his eye when the lights eventually flickered and came back on. Mike stayed in touch with old classmates and people he grew up with in Louisiana and never missed a reunion, homecoming or special event. He cherished all his friends but especially the ones in South Louisiana.

Mike was an energetic handful growing up in Patterson and took full advantage of the hunting, fishing, camping and outdoor activities that abounded in that area. He was an all state fullback for the Patterson Louisiana Lumberjacks, known for dragging would-be tacklers down the field as he crossed the finish line. He was offered several college scholarships, but two weeks short of graduation decided to enlist in the Army and ended up in Vietnam. Mike served two tours of duty in Nam as a combat engineer where his duty was to sweep for mines before troops crossed over the area. As you can imagine, this was dangerous, deadly work and many he served with did not survive. After his duty in Vietnam ended he returned to his parent's home who had now relocated to Beaumont, Texas. Mike attended Lamar University and got a degree in electronics, the last year Lamar gave degrees in that field as LIT opened thereafter. Make worked various jobs as an electrician eventually going to work for the U.S. Postal Service in Beaumont, Texas as an electronics technician. He eventually worked his way up to manager of the maintenance department at the new postal facility on Walden Road in Beaumont from which he retired in January of 2009.

Mike met his wife, Kaye, in 1973 after he returned from Vietnam and they dated for two years until their marriage on February 14, 1975. He always joked that he got married on that date so he would only have to buy one gift for two special occasions. If there is one word to describe the years Mike and Kaye spent as a couple it would be fun. The simplest, most ordinary thing in the world was fun when they did it together. They lived in Vidor, Texas, for 34 years where they raised their two sons, Josh and Jordan. Mike love to fish and instilled that love in his oldest son, Josh. They spent countless hours fishing every body of water for miles around. It was a wonderful way for father and son to bond and Mike truly loved every adventure they did together. Mike was impressed with the fisherman Josh became, often commenting about the special gift Josh had for fishing in everything from tying a rig, to different techniques he used to land a fish. There was always a spirited competition involved and the days catch was usually recorded in a photo with great care taken to get the best angle to maximize the appearance of the size of the fish.

Mike also adored his baby boy, Jordan, and they shared a love of vehicles and debating issues. Jordan could discuss different issues with his dad for long periods of time and Mike was always impressed with how Jordan would listen to his dad's opinion, think about it and calmly respond with his own thoughts, if he disagreed. I think that is why Jordan enjoyed mock trial in high school so much and had considered becoming at attorney. Jordan's untimely passing in 2003 shortly after graduating high school was a tragedy that Mike helped us all through. I know their reunion in heaven was one that Mike had always looked forward to, when that time came.

Mike's happy place the last nine years of his life was Wildwood in Village Mills, Texas. Mike and Kaye bought a shop for Mike that happened to come with a house. That shop was Mike's kingdom and he spent countless happy hours out there puttering, repairing any and everything that ever needed to be fixed and solving the problems of the world with his friends and neighbors. He started a golf cart repair business when first moving to Wildwood and it was not unusual to look out and see several golf carts parked at the shop and hear loud talking and laughter over the cajun music he liked to play. He would come in some days for lunch like he was exhausted and had been working so hard, when in reality there had been a party going on. It was a win/win situation as he got to meet and talk to people, another one of his passions, and tinker with something that needed to be fixed.

Mike adored all of his grandchildren and loved when they got to spend time together. In recent years, several family vacations were shared with the kid, the last one being a trip to South Padre Island in June. Mike's granddaughters were the lights of his life. Girls were a novelty in the Millican household as it was always full of boys so Adelyn, Alyse and Ava brought PawPaw a sweeter, different kind of love that he cherished. One of the great joys in Mike's recent years was watching his grandson Aidan play basketball. No matter what Mike was doing everything came to a standstill when Aidan had a game and this is from someone who always actually like football better. I guess it wasn't the sport so much as who he was watching that made a difference. Go Lumberton Raiders!!

Mike suffered many health issues that he dealt with quietly and diligently. He was the best patient ever, always following doctors orders and trying to stay as healthy as he could even during the challenging health issues. Tragically, the Covid virus struck and presented obstacles that proved insurmountable. Please pray for a solution to this terrible, cruel disease.

Mike leaves behind his wife of over 45 years, Kaye (Wells) Millican; their son and daughter-in-law, Josh and Amanda Millican of Lumberton, Texas; grandchildren Adelyn Millican, Aidan Millican, Alyse Millican and Ava Millican of Lumberton, Texas; sister Jodi Richard of Carthage, Texas; brother-in-law Howard Beasley of Carthage, Texas; brother and sister-in-law Ronnie and Tincey Millican of DeBerry, Texas; numerous nieces and nephews and many, many dear friends. Son Jordan Millican preceded Mike's passing as well as his mother and stepfather Mary Jo and Carl Haire and father Marvin Millican.

Services are scheduled for Saturday, September 5, at Pine Forest Baptist Church, 4800 North Main, Vidor, Texas with visitation to begin at 12 noon and the service following at 2:00 PM. The church is set up for social distancing and masks are encouraged. If you wish to contribute to a charity in lieu of flowers the family has had a long established endowed scholarship in the name of Jordan Millican at Vidor Schools Foundation, PO Box 1644,Vidor Texas, 77670. The foundation also has a link https://tinyurl.com/VSFscholarship.

Mike's gifts to the world were many, but the greatest would have to be his love for and acceptance of all people. He truly needed people as much as the oxygen he breathed and it was obvious to anyone who was around him or knew him that's the only way he knew how to live. What a life - What a legacy - we should all try to live more that way. He will be missed.