Nancy Jean McMillan Ewell

Nancy Jean McMillan Ewell died at home November 22, 2023. She imprinted the many lives she touched with her courage, indomitable spirit, and generous heart as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Nancy, also known as GranNan, will be remembered for her tenacious love; the special experiences she created for her family; her devoted attention to each child and grandchild’s unique personality and needs; her embrace of the spiritual, of nature, and of others; her creativity and her curious mind; and her joy in finding treasures for family members.

Nancy was born December 25, 1937, in Knoxville, Tennessee, to Tombras Advertising Executive Thomas Allan McMillan, Jr. and homemaker Myrtle Lois Godwin McMillan. As the second of eight children, she felt uniquely seen and cherished by her grandmother Daisy. She cultivated a group of lifelong friends and loved being outdoors, especially as a Girl Scout at Camp Margaret Townsend in the Smoky Mountains. While attending the University of Tennessee, she met the love of her life, Milton Watkins Ewell, Jr.

Nancy and Watkins were married in 1958 at Second Presbyterian Church. They moved to his hometown of Dyersburg where they raised four children. Nancy was a devoted mother and a supportive wife to her husband, an attorney, and later, a West Tennessee Court of Appeals judge.

She involved her family in the life of First United Methodist Church and served as a leader in Brownies and as a Cub Scouts den mother. Nancy often took her family on nature outings such as canoeing the Buffalo River, built a tree house for her kids and introduced them to beautifully illustrated and imaginative books. Nancy and Watkins took their children back to Knoxville to celebrate Christmases with Mimi, Papa, Goggie, and Nancy’s siblings, and to enjoy happy times at the family swimming hole.

Nancy was known for the fun-filled July Fourth picnics she planned and hosted which featured her mouth-watering chocolate cake, deviled eggs, and barbeque chicken as well as humorous trophies she handcrafted. Christmas was met with equal excitement as she would decorate the house beautifully, lead in the tree-cutting expedition, and find unique gifts for each child. She enjoyed many special friendships in Dyersburg. She brought the joyful McMillan tradition of summer vacationing on Pawleys Island into her family, and taught her children and grandchildren how to find shark’s teeth and sunset-hued scallop shells.

After losing her beloved Watkins in 1980, she moved back to Knoxville where she single-handedly raised her children to be happy and healthy adults. There, she was excited to be reunited with old friends and family. Some of her happiest days were spent with her sisters, Carol and Meryl. She regularly walked the Third Creek Bike Trail and loved pointing out wildlife to her children and grandchildren. She created special experiences for her grandchildren such as a pirate’s chest treasure hunt in the sand and a “Whale of a Fish Tale” award. In university classes, she crafted beautifully vivid art which now reside in her children’s homes. She would often frame paintings and prints, making these pieces exquisite for her children’s walls. As a thrift store enthusiast, she joyfully took on the mission of finding unique treasures for her children and grandchildren. She instilled within them a reverence for God and a love of all people, nature, literature, and art.

Nancy’s favorite word was “home,” and her family is so glad that she is now with God, in her permanent home.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Watkins; her parents, Thomas and Myrtle Lois McMillan; her siblings Carol McMillan Godel (Laimon), Bobby McMillan, and Pat McMillan; and her grandchildren, Bennett and Harrison Ewell.

Celebrating their mother’s life are Diana Ewell Engel (Clint) of High Point, North Carolina; Michael Watkins Ewell (Sonya) of Knoxville, Tennessee; Elizabeth Ewell Crockett (Joe) of Brentwood, Tennessee; and Douglas McMillan Ewell (Ali) of Knoxville, Tennessee. Celebrating their grandmother’s life are Claire Engel; William and Alex Ewell; and Matthew, Zachary, and Eliza Crockett. Nancy will be greatly missed by her great-grandson, George Porter Crockett; her siblings and their spouses—Meryl McMillan Dilcher, Pete McMillan (Kathryn), Mike McMillan (Sherry), and Chris McMillan (Judy); her sister-in-law, Sharon Sellers McMillan; and her many nieces and nephews.

The family will hold a private memorial service at a later date.

In her memory, gifts may be made to Friends of the Smokies, Love Kitchen, Knox Area Rescue Ministries and Goodwill Industries of Knoxville.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.berryhighlandmemorial.com for the Ewell family.