Millicent "Millie" J. Mylander

Millicent “Millie” J. Mylander, 86 years old, of Sulphur, Louisiana, passed away Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 5:12 pm at home, lovingly surrounded by her immediate family and caring Heart of Hospice personnel.

She was preceded in death by her loving grandparents, Mr. Charles F. and Mrs. Cora G. Mylander of Fremont, Ohio and Mr. Edward R. and Mrs. Gertrude Rose P. Clapham of Westerville, Ohio; her parents, Mr. Wilton and Mrs. Jeanette Rosette C. Mylander of Columbus, Ohio; and recently her youngest brother, Dr. Kenneth W. Mylander of Columbia, South Carolina.

Millicent is survived by and was married December 25, 1955 in Fremont, Ohio to her loving husband, Mr. Earl Franklin Barton, 90 years old, of Clinchco, Virginia. Through “thick and thin” they were together in love for 71 years, being blessed with four wonderful children. They are as follows: Mrs. Deborah L. Barton Darbonne (Mitchell), Mrs. Babette “Babs” Oakley (Danny), both residing in Sulphur, Louisiana, Mrs. Allison Marzouk (Joe) of Conroe, Texas, and Mr. Brian Earl Barton, also residing in Sulphur, Louisiana. Millie is also survived by her nine grandchildren, Mrs. Melody Ann Culliver (Terry), and Mr. Sean Patrick Harrison (Christy), both of Mobile, Alabama, Miss Holly Veillon of Lake Charles, Louisiana, Mrs. Lindsay Byrd (Josh) of Westlake, Louisiana, Mr. Christopher Gengo (Ledina) of Conroe, Texas, Ms. April Hinton, Mrs. Bethany Taylor (Brandon), and Mr. Jason Barton (Amanda) of Lafayette, Louisiana area, and Mrs. Stephanie Dunker (Jeremy); along with 22 great grandchildren. She also has one surviving brother, Mr. David Mylander (Manuella) and family of Westerville, Ohio, and her youngest brother’s wife, Mrs. Diane Mylander and family of Columbia, South Carolina.

Millicent graduated from Westerville High School, in Westerville, Ohio, May 1955. She went to Otterbein College, studied Music with Dr. Hahn for 3 years, was married, and attended Bliss College of Business for a year in Columbus, Ohio. She had 4 children, staying home and raising them for five years. She was a strong, dedicated, fierce, and loving mother, seamstress, pianist, Accounts Payable and Receivable Clerk, Bookkeeper, Credit Manager, property/business owner for 50 plus years, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and in between she studied and went to school to become a Rabbinic Aide upon learning of her Jewish heritage when her grandparents passed. Her constant “thirst of knowledge” regarding Judaism was encouraged by Rabbi Stein at Temple Sinai, who directed her towards the Para-Rabbinic Program of the Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. She completed the course on July 30, 1989; furthering her Para-Rabbinic Fellows Program and completing it July 26, 2000 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to her death, she was the last surviving female Rabbinic Aide from that 1989 program in the United States. Millie was a member of, taught both children’s Sunday School, was Sisterhood President 4 different times, member of Sisterhoods, taught young women how to cook Jewish Challah/Jewish recipes, she wrote/directed Purim plays, sang, played organ and piano with and for choirs, and performed her Rabbinic duties in four different synagogues: Temple Sinai, Lake Charles, Louisiana; Temple Gemiluth Chassodim, Alexandria, Louisiana; Temple Emmanuel, Beaumont, Texas; and Temple Shalom, Lafayette, Louisiana, throughout the course of her years.

Millicent J. Mylander’s accolades continued throughout the course of her life: Member listed in the National Registers of Who’s Who for Executives and Professionals in 2002-2003, and again in 2006-2007. In 2008-2009, she became a Lifetime Member of Madison’s Who’s Who Registry of Executives and Professionals for exemplary achievement and distinguished contributions to the Business Community. She was a Co-Founder to Abraham’s Tent, in Lake Charles, Louisiana/Moss Bluff, along with her dear friend, and now Business Manager, Pearl Cole. Along with the Local Rabbi Stein at that time, Catholic and Protestant clergy, help from various businesses and charity assistance and organizations, they put together an outreach program set to help feed our homeless, poor, and destitute, and elderly “shut-ins” …anyone needing a square meal and was hungry. This program has grown since then, they now have a new facility, and Millie, Earl and her daughter, Deborah sit on the board of Abrahams Tent…one of many of Millie’s “dear to her heart” legacies.

Millie’s big and kind heart extended to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Boys Town, and ASPCA, Smiling Dog Farms, and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, working to end cruelty to animals…she was a lover of Judaism, of children, of our veterans and military, and an avid animal lover/protector.

So in lieu of flowers…the family is asking for individuals to send your monetary gift to them at:

Abraham’s Tent c/o Ms. Pearl Cole, (notate “Memory of Millie” on bottom note area of your checks) at 2424 Fruge Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana, 70601. Phone #: 337-274-0505. Clothing and or food donations are also welcomed.

(Or)…Send to: Temple Sinai, c/o Mrs. Sandy Desadier, (note for “Tree of Life Foundation”, memory of Millicent Mylander) 713 Hodges Street, Lake Charles, Louisiana, 70601 (or) call: 337-540-9993.

A Celebration of Millie's life will be held at Temple Sinai Synagogue in Lake Charles, Louisiana on Sunday, April 27, 2025 from 1:30 pm until 3:30 pm, with Barry Weinstein presiding.

Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonsulphurmemorial.com.