Carolyn Kay Millard

Carolyn Kay (Brauer) Millard was born in Saint Louis, Missouri on April 19, 1941. She was the first child of Edward G. Brauer and Adele M. Schlueter, of Belleville, Illinois. In 1954, her parents moved to Webster Groves, Missouri. There Carolyn attended parochial elementary and secondary schools with her younger brother and sister. Much of her time was devoted to the study of the piano. In 1956, Carolyn was admitted to Webster University having been awarded a music scholarship. After four years of intense study including countless hours alone at the keyboard, and performance of high-stress recitals, she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education.

It was during her final years in college that she reconnected with a former schoolmate who would ultimately become her husband. On Independence Day 1964, Carolyn married Army Lieutenant Ray Millard. At this point, the two young lovers had known each other for 9 years.

Following her initial teaching assignment at Rosary High School in Saint Louis, Carolyn assumed the position as lead Music Education teacher in the North Star School District in Fairbanks, Alaska. Over the next 20 years, Carolyn, and Ray and their two sons served and lived in the Republic of Panama, Louisiana, Georgia, Missouri, Kansas, California, and Washington D.C. There were many separations including two years when Carolyn and her young sons remained in St. Louis while Ray served in the Republic of Vietnam.

Not unlike many young service wives, Carolyn seized opportunities to raise and educate her sons as strong, independent, self-reliant young men. And when dad returned from a deployment, the family sprang into action for the next adventure. For at least four consecutive summers in the early 70’s, the family tent camped and backpacked in the Rocky Mountains.

The entire family enjoyed traveling by simple means in this country and abroad. It all began in 1964 when Carolyn and Ray drove Carolyn’s VW bug from Missouri to Alaska for their honeymoon. Ten years later, they purchased a used VW Microbus and left Monterey with two young sons. A month and 5,600 miles later, they arrived at the Panama Canal. The detailed log of that adventure shows Carolyn did most of the driving.

Carolyn’s generosity knew no bounds. For more than a decade she supported a fellow employee paralyzed as a result of a severe automobile accident. She was his advocate, cheerleader, fund raiser, companion, caregiver, and case manager. All of this while raising her sons and building a career as an accomplished liability insurance underwriter.

For more than 10 consecutive years, Carolyn and her husband participated in pilgrimages to Guatemala to aid in construction of rural schools and libraries.

In 2004, Carolyn had a chance encounter with a young Mayan girl selling woven bracelets. Carolyn seized the opportunity to make a difference in the life of this young girl. Today, that young woman has completed college and has become a credentialed teacher in the Guatemalan highlands. She is the first member of her family to achieve more than a sixth-grade education. In 2013, she asked Carolyn to be the godmother of her tiny new son. Carolyn traveled once again to Guatemala and participated in the christening.

Carolyn is survived by her husband Ray, their sons Keith and Chris, and three adult grandchildren Aaron, Katherine, and Elizabeth.

A funeral liturgy beginning at 10:30AM will be celebrated at Saint Angela Merici Church in Pacific Grove, California on Thursday, April 24, 2025. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Monterey Bay Aquarium or the Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Cetacean Society.