Carmen Crews McMillan

We announce with great sadness the passing of Carmen Crews McCracken McMillan, a true Texas original: a Southern belle with equal measures of grace, grit, humor and an unwavering love for people. Carmen passed away peacefully on the morning of August 17, 2026, with her daughters holding her hands and Amazing Grace playing beside her.

Born August 28, 1942, in Iowa to Dr. Willis Lossen Crews and Mary Kaisand Crews, Carmen moved with her family to Gonzales, Texas, as a child. Her father and uncle established an osteopathic hospital there, while her mother taught mathematics at the local high school. Carmen was a bright and beloved presence in her hometown. She loved riding her horse "Lightening" around town, being the ring leader of 'The Stupid Cupids', entertaining the circus group that passed through town by train, and was proud to be crowned "Come and Take It" Queen of Gonzales.

Carmen was, above all, a people person. As an only child, she somehow managed to create a family wherever she went. She never met a stranger, never forgot an old friend, and was happiest when surrounded by people, telling stories, laughing and making connections. She was known for being beautiful, bright, funny, social, loyal, determined, stubborn, impeccably dressed and gloriously unfiltered. There was truly no one like Carmen.

After graduating from Gonzales High School, Carmen attended SMU, where she joined Kappa Alpha Theta and formed the lifelong friendships and sisterhood that meant so much to her. Her mother famously told her when she pledged, "Now you have all of the sisters I couldn't give you." Carmen was named a Rotunda Beauty and remained deeply devoted to Theta throughout her life, serving on the house corporation board, helping with the capital campaign for the new Beta Sigma house, and receiving numerous honors, including Theta of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Golden Star.

She graduated from SMU and stayed in Dallas to teach mathematics at Thomas Jefferson High School. She became involved with several charitable organizations as well as civic and social groups. Carmen was an integral part of every organization she joined and was often a leader and head fundraiser. The list of organizations is long and distinguished: Junior League, Easter Seals Society,the Dallas Symphony Orchestra League, Crystal Charity Ball, CASA (Theta's philanthropy), The Dallas Woman's Club, Charter 100, Athenaeum Book Club, Dallas Garden Club, to name most of them.

Carmen lived life passionately and loved fervently. In 1970, she married the love of her life, Samuel Rowe McCracken. She adored his large family and loved having so many sisters- and brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews. Carmen was the "strict aunt," but all eventually came to appreciate her unrelenting love, loyalty and support of family.

Carmen's strength was tested in ways few could imagine. In spring 1988, she lost her mother to cancer, then a best friend in January 1989. In March, 1989, everyone was devastated when Sam died unexpectedly. Carmen was only 46 when, in less than a year, she lost 3 of the people she loved most.

Carmen persevered. With the help of her strong faith, loving family and loyal friends, she found the strength to carry on the life they had built together. With no intention of becoming an entrepreneur, she became a licensed insurance agent, continued Sam's business and created The McCracken Company, which she successfully operated for decades.

At age 50, Carmen was formally adopted by her mother's widower, Al, who was the only grandfather her girls ever knew. The girls shared a special relationship with Al and loved him deeply until his death at 107.

In 1995, Carmen and a longtime college friend, EG McMillan III, were unexpectedly reunited at parents weekend at SMU. Their friendship quickly blossomed into love, and they married in 2000. Together, Carmen and EG built a happy life filled with music, laughter, travel, family and friends. They shared a deep appreciation for one another and for the people and experiences that made life special.

In 2020, Carmen endured the heartbreaking loss of her oldest daughter, Mary-Elizabeth, who survived 9 years after her 2009 diagnosis of brain cancer. Just over a year later, her husband, EG, passed away from prostate cancer. Through unimaginable grief, Carmen continued to love, serve, laugh and show up for the people around her.

Carmen's love of music was lifelong. She learned to play the piano as a child, played clarinet in the Gonzales High School Apache marching band, and learned to play the carillon at her beloved Highland Park United Methodist Church. She played for Sunday services, weddings and funerals for many years. She loved the symphony and being twirled around the dance floor at Dallas Dinner Dance Club, or any event! Her faith was equally important to her. At HPUMC, she served as an usher, Sunday school teacher, member of the minister search committee and more. Her church was not simply a place she attended, it was a community she loved and served.

She was also an adventurer. In college she spent a summer in Spain living with a local family so she could fully immerse herself in the language and culture. She traveled extensively with family and friends and cherished summer trips to the family cabin in Colorado and Gulf Shores, Alabama. She traveled to Europe many times including 'business trips' to pick up Sam's new Mercedes and she and EG traveled to China, Africa, Israel and beyond. Carmen even traveled with the Carillon Congress to play carillons around the world.

Whether at Camp Mystic, an SMU tailgate party or board meeting, a charity event, a church luncheon or halfway around the world, Carmen had a remarkable ability to make people feel known and included. Her network of connections was wide, but her relationships were deep. Countless friends have mentioned how Carmen connected them to a particular group in Dallas, introduced them to people they would come to love, and somehow made everyone feel that they belonged.

In March 2024, just days after moving into The Preston, Carmen was diagnosed with lymphoma. She faced six months of treatment and went into remission. True to form, she kept moving forward. Even when dementia began to take pieces of her memory, it could not take away the essence of Carmen. After moving to The Preston, she made new friends, held court in the dining room and continued to draw people into her orbit. She had an extraordinary gift for making people feel welcome, connected and loved.

Carmen lived by her own mantra: "If you put on lipstick and earrings, you can face almost anything." She did just that with style, humor, courage and an abundance of heart.

Carmen's greatest joy was her family. She is survived by her daughters, Amanda McCracken Gay and her husband, Chris, and their children, Wyatt and CeCelia; and CeCelia McCracken Hodges and her husband, Joel, and their children, Henry, George and Sam. She also leaves behind her beloved grandsons Sam and Jake Carrell, sons of her late daughter, Mary-Elizabeth McCracken Carrell, and Rick. In addition, she is survived by EG's children and grandchildren who she adored: Kitsie McMillan Hayles and husband Ray and their children Jack with wife Virginia, Mary Caroline, Rhett and Millie; and Scott McMillan and wife Traci and their children Knox, Hunt, and Cole. Carmen's children and grandchildren were among the greatest loves and proudest accomplishments of her life.

A celebration of Carmen's life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 29, 2026, in the sanctuary at Highland Park United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, although Carmen certainly loved them, memorial contributions may be made to a few of the many organizations that were close to her heart, including Southwestern Medical Foundation, Highland Park United Methodist Church Music Ministry, or Kappa Alpha Theta.

Carmen leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured in titles, accomplishments or years. It lives in the people she loved, the lives she touched and the countless stories that will continue to be told about her - including the fact that she was always late! She was a force of nature, and there will never be another Carmen.

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