Dorothy Ann Milligan

Dorothy Ann Sparks Milligan was born on August 27, 1917 and went to Heaven, to be with her Lord and the rest of her family, on January 17, 2013. Her loving parents were David Winfield Sparks and Laura Angst Sparks.

Dorothy was born and raised on a farm in Exline, Iowa. She was the 7th of 10 children. Her parents first had 5 baby boys in a row and then 5 baby girls in a row. Dorothy is survived by her four sons Pat (Kathy), Dave (Linda), Les, and Dennis (Carina); 8 grand children Corinne, Kristin, Rebecca, Kyle, Aaron, Kelley, Brandon, and Michaela, and 4 great grand children Katy, Brendan, Danny, and Kimberley. Dorothy and her husband of 43 years Donald Patrick Milligan first settled with their complete family in Long Beach, California in 1946 after beginning it in Iowa in 1939. They moved around Southern California and were parishioners of various Catholic churches In LA and Orange counties. Don earned a very good living as a plasterer, welder, and ship fitter. Dorothy worked for many years as a preschool/daycare teacher.

In their later years Don and Dorothy fulfilled a dream and became farm owners in Stover, Missouri for 7 years on their "Ol Rocky top" mountain farm. Then in 1977 they returned to live in Southern California. In retirement they traveled to Canada, Ireland, and Mazatlan, Mexico

Don passed away in 1982. For the next 31 years Dorothy continued to be a giving, caring, loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and neighbor to all around her. She was strong, independent and very close to her Catholic Faith.She was also a member of the Alter Society at St. Matthews parish, in Long Beach.

Luyben Family Dilday-Mottell Mortuary (562) 425-6401