Lorraine Donna McMillan

Lorraine Donna McMillan, 94 of Las Vegas, formerly of Williamston, Michigan and Desert Hot Springs, California passed away on August 5, 2023 surrounded by her four youngest loving children - Kevin, Kay, Colleen and Kelly. Lorraine is survived by her children: Michael McMillan, Gary McMillan (Kathy Caldwell), Patricia Sanchez, Kevin McMillan (Flora Orozco), Kay McMillan (Richard Nicholas), Colleen Bacchus (Amir Bacchus) and Kelly McMillan. Lorraine was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 69 years Peter and her brother James and her sisters Helen, Grace, Marie, Gladys and Audrey, her niece she called a sister.

Lorraine was born in Detroit, Michigan on July 19, 1929 to Harold Gold and Mary Ellen Murphy. Lorraine attended Detroit Public Schools and graduated from Detroit Pershing High School. She attended Macomb County Community College in pursuit of an Associate Degree in Business.

Lorraine lived with her parents in Detroit until her mother died when she was only seventeen - forcing her to work to support herself while still in high school. She was independent and self-assured and from then on, she worked as a homemaker, mother (raising seven children) and at various jobs: a “soda jerk,” bookkeeper at Hudson’s , selling Tupperware and Sarah Coventry jewelry, an a/p clerk for physician offices and golf courses and at the Unemployment Offices in both Michigan and California. She was the family and friend go-to during income tax season squeezing every penny back from taxes paid.

In 1948, at age 19 Lorraine married the love of her life, Peter McMillan. They were happily married for 69 years until Peter’s death in 2018. They lived in Michigan until Peter’s retirement and then moved to Desert Hot Springs California where they built their retirement home. Most recently they lived in Las Vegas, NV.

Lorraine was smart and energetic and loved country music and square dancing. She enjoyed cross stitch and was an avid quilter and was always in the middle of a sewing or knitting project. Her family and friends have many a quilt or dress or curtain that was sewn by her loving hands.

She was a tour deforce in the lives she touched. She loved to sweep her grandchildren up in her arms and kiss them while they giggled and squirmed. She always welcomed her children and their friends and her extended family - her siblings and nieces and neighbors and nephews - and Pete’s students into her home. She’d cook and laugh and hug. She made all that work her gift of love. She was quick to console a broken heart and happy to offer encouragement and advice.

Lorraine and Peter raised seven children. They have 18 grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren.

We will forever miss her love and spirit.

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