Erin Gay Branton

In loving memory of Erin Gay Branton, also affectionately known as “Mom”, “Sissy”, and “Er-Bear”. Erin was born March 24, 1976, in Austin, Texas to Charles and Suezette Branton. At the time of her death, she was 45. Erin was a loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend to many. She lit up the room when she walked in and at an early age, she was a caregiver at heart. Erin was the apple of her Grandpa’s eye and the spitting image of her mother, Suzi.

Erin was raised in the Oak Hill Area of Austin, Texas. She came from a long line of softball players and her mother was her coach. She was an avid softball player. Erin graduated from Bowie High School in 1994. She passed her love of softball on to her daughter, Madi, and she and her family spent many hours at the softball fields, at practice, and at tournaments. She loved watching Madi play.

Erin always wanted to follow in her grandmother, LaDoris Gay’s, footsteps to become a nurse. She worked as a Certified Nurse Assistant while applying to nursing school. Erin graduated in 2002 from Tarleton State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. LaDoris, at the age of 83, pinned Erin at her BSN ceremony. In August 2009 Erin received her MSN from UT Arlington, becoming a Nurse Practitioner. Erin was currently working at Prospero Health providing home-based medical care to people living with serious illness. She helped them feel empowered to write their stories with joy and dignity.

Erin had a deep love for her three beautiful children: Mason Oliver Milligan and twins Madyn Suezette Milligan and Maxwell Scott Milligan. Her oldest son Mason made her a Mama and her family blossomed three years later with the birth of her twins Max and Madi. Erin loved doing things for her children such as a annual tradition of a back-to-school party with a pencil cake. During the holidays she would host a Christmas Eve Party complete with a Gingerbread House decorating, ornament exchange, and fun games.

Then came, THE JEEP. She loved that Jeep. Driving with the top down, sun shining, and old school rap blaring from her speakers while eating sunflower seeds…even with her 75-year-old Mother in her ride! “We will miss your sass, your laugh, your free spirit and your friendship. You lived life on your terms and did it your way. Your heart had to endure too much pain for any Mama, but you always pushed through. Fly with the angels, hug Mason, Pappy and all those who went too soon. We will be watching over your babies down here. We love you Mostess,” as so well stated by Heather Georgiou.

Erin is preceded in death by her father, Charles Branton and her oldest son Mason Milligan. She is survived by her twins Max and Madi Milligan, mother Suezette Branton, sister Kerry Huffman and her husband Shane, niece Kaelan Huffman, nephew Branton Huffman and many other aunts, uncles, cousins, and loved ones.

Services will be at 11am on Tuesday, October 12th at First United Methodist Church, 600 South Buffalo, Canton, Texas. Visitation will be held at 10:00am. Lunch at the church directly after the service. Interment following at the gravesite for the family. Pastor Adam Muckleroy will officiate at the service.

“So come with me,

where dreams are born,

and time is never planned.

Just think of happy things,

and your heart will fly on wings, forever.”

~Peter Pan

In lieu of flowers, the family would like for contributions to be made in memory of her son, Mason Oliver Milligan, to the Jed Foundation, a nonprofit organization for suicide awareness, or the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.