E. Geraldine McMillan

Gerry was born March 29, 1939, in Lincoln, NE, the third of five daughters born to Noel Mason Rice and Ruth Margaret Creager Rice. As a toddler, she moved to Omaha, NE, where she spent her childhood, school, and university years. The early passing of her beloved father at age 46, when she was still a young teen, had a strong effect on Gerry and cemented the tight bonds between the five sisters and their widowed mother.

Gerry attended the same elementary school as her sisters but then elected to pursue the "college preparatory" program at Technical High, a school that offered a wide variety of career preparation programs. She played clarinet in the band, took part in student council and Junior Red Cross, was elected to "Girls' State," and was featured in the Omaha World Herald as Teen of the Week. Gerry was also active in the drama department, playing in several musical and dramatic productions. She graduated from Technical High in 1957.

She went on to the University of Omaha, where she graduated in January 1961 with a Bachelor of Science in Education. She was active in her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha, and was selected as "Cutest Pan," in a fund-raising competition which earned her a full-page photo in the school yearbook. She also worked part-time at the school telephone switchboard and began student teaching. While still a college student, Gerry met her future husband, Keith McMillan, a young Air Force Lieutenant, on a blind date. The couple hit it off immediately and carried on a long distance and weekends relationship until he was able to arrange a transfer back to Omaha. They were married at Hanscom Park Methodist Church on August 6, 1960, a union which lasted 62 years, until Keith’s death in 2023. In 1961 Gerry and Keith moved to Hastings, NE where Gerry taught 5th grade. In 1962, they moved to Tuscola, IL where they bought their first house, joined Tuscola United Presbyterian Church, and started a family, having sons Rick (1963) and David (1966). Gerry and Keith enjoyed an active social life and camping trips with the life-long friends they made in Tuscola through church and work. They also bowled in leagues and played bridge and other card games. Gerry’s father had been an avid jigsaw puzzler and Gerry loved them too, carrying that interest throughout her life.

In 1968, Keith accepted a promotion to the corporate headquarters in New York City and the family moved to Glen Rock, NJ. In 1972, a new and better job for Keith took Gerry and the family to Baltimore, where the boys attended Riderwood Elementary and where the family began a life-long association with Hunt’s Memorial United Methodist Church and its family of members. Gerry has been an active member of Hunt’s, serving on various committees, singing in the choir, leading child and adult Sunday School, participating in church life, and supporting the church with her tithes. A promotion for Keith in 1975 led to a move to Lima, OH for two years, with a return to Baltimore and Hunt’s in 1977. During this Baltimore stint, both boys graduated Dulaney High. As the boys were teens, Gerry studied accounting and went back to work as a bookkeeper and as a receptionist.

While always maintaining close family ties in Omaha, Keith and Gerry were the ones who moved east—and moved around. Gerry was an equal partner in the wise career choices, in house and school selections and she was a rock who ensured the consistency of family life over all the moves. Wherever Keith’s career took them, they focused on finding a church and made many close friends through choirs and church activities. In 1984, another promotion for Keith took Gerry to Bloomington, MN, where they lived for 5 years. Gerry welcomed her 84 year-old mother-in-law, Helen, to live with them there, and cared for Helen until her dementia became too severe for home care. For part of this time both Rick and Dave came back home to live as well. Having the family together again as adults was a special time that was enlightening and valued by all. Gerry joined the P.E.O. Sisterhood while living in Bloomington and continued a lifelong affiliation, joining a local chapter wherever they moved. Gerry had to move again when Keith’s job was eliminated in 1988. The whole family moved to Oak Park, IL in Spring 1989. By the end of the summer, Rick was in Detroit and Dave back in Baltimore, on with their careers. Gerry’s niece Lynda also moved to Oak Park, IL and that was a delight. In 1990, Keith changed jobs again, and Keith and Gerry moved to Glastonbury, CT.

In 1993, Keith retired young at age 57 and they decided to build a house on inherited property on Lake Kampeska in Watertown, SD, where Keith had spent summers as a kid and where they had honeymooned. Gerry’s requirement of “no South Dakota winters” drove them to a yearly migration to and from Baltimore, where they house-sat for various Hunt’s members or through Hunt’s connections every winter for 19 years in all, spending time with Dave and Lisa and their growing family (David Arthur, Jr. 1999, Elizabeth Helen 2001, Daniel James 2005, Joseph Keith 2008) and continuing to be active in Hunt’s Church. During this time Gerry was able to entertain many family and friends at the lake house and to visit many along the “migration route”, including son Rick in Dearborn, MI twice a year. In 2014, they finally moved back to Baltimore permanently to a lovely and comfortable condo in Towsongate. They were close to Dave and Lisa and grandkids and enjoyed many family activities and also being active full-time at Hunts. During this time, Rick and Liana visited, Keith and Gerry took several road trips to visit friends and family, and life was good.

In 2022, Gerry’s first great-grandchild, Chloe Denise McMillan, was born, a great delight to Gerry and Keith. Sadly, on March 5, 2023, Keith died on his 87th birthday. Gerry’s second great-grandchild, Naomi Helen McMillan was born in September 2023. Due to a struggle with back pain, Gerry moved to Pickersgill assisted living in November 2024, where she was happy and comfortable, with her pain improving. Her third great-grandchild David Arthur Elijah McMillan III was born in February 2025 and Gerry got to meet him. Gerry passed suddenly on March 27, 2025, two days before her 86th birthday. She is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Keith, and by sisters Roberta Nyberg and Patricia Tetrick; and is survived by sons Rick (and Liana) of Dearborn, MI., and David (and Lisa) of Baltimore, four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, sisters Jeannette Johnson and Jeannene (and Roger) Mason, cousins Karen Creager (and Steve), Kathleen Mitchell, several Rice cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families. We all miss her greatly.

A Celebration of Gerry’s life will be held at Hunt’s Memorial UMC in Towson, MD on Sunday, April 6, 2025 at 11:30 am EDT with luncheon reception to follow. The service can be viewed on the Hunt’s Church YouTube channel. A private interment service will be held at Prospect Hill Cemetery of Towson on Sunday at 2:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in memoriam to Hunt’s Memorial UMC, 1912 Old Court Road, Towson, MD 21204 or www.huntschurch.org.