For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Celebration of Life Saturday September 4th   2021, 1:00 P.M.

Dorothy "Dottie" Milligan , faithful servant of her Lord Jesus Christ, went home to be with her precious family on August 13, 2021. She made her heavenly journey one week shy of her 95th birthday. She always said that she celebrated her birthday all month-long so she started early with all the saints in heaven!

Dorothy believed in living a fruitful, resilient life. Her life's canvas illustrates that belief in action.  On August 22, 1926 in Snow Hill, Arkansas, Dorothy Brown started this life in a tent! The oldest of four siblings, she and her family prevailed raising small crops and farm animals through the Depression. Times were tough, evidenced by her two brothers passing away and the little family moving from Arkansas to Sulphur, Oklahoma so that her younger sister, Augusta Lavern, could attend the Oklahoma School for the Deaf. Lavern recalled that Dorothy was extremely intelligent, an excellent student, exceedingly beautiful, and a generous big sister.

Lavern remembered that "Dottie" had many suitors, but George D. Milligan, a World War II soldier, won her heart at a dance when she was the tender age of nineteen. They were married June 7, 1945 in Sulphur, Oklahoma. She and George started the Milligan family in Texas with their three sons being born within a couple of years of each other. They moved back to Oklahoma from Borger, TX in 1952. Mrs. Milligan demonstrated her whole-hearted credence in education by obtaining her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from East Central University, Ada, OK while raising her family.

She was dearly loved by that family and a host of others. They include fellow Byng School teachers and administrators and the southeastern Oklahoma community. Mrs. Milligan served Byng Schools faithfully from 1955 to her retirement in 1993. Additionally, George and Dorothy opened their home to several community, church and family members, contributing generously with their time and resources. Dorothy served as an AARP tax-preparer, a literacy skills instructor for OK prisoners, and a volunteer on voting days at the polls. Finally, proving that they were not all work and no play, she and George were avid Ada Hereford Twirlers, square dancing regularly at Wintersmith Lodge. They loved to spend their free time with family and friends - fishing and boating, traveling across the U.S and Israel, and hosting many dinners, swim parties, and games around the kitchen table at their home.

Dorothy Milligan, a celebration of life in Byng, OK       by Ruth Ann Taylor with excerpts from Seasoned with Salt

It was surely Byng's gain when a young couple, George and Dorothy Milligan, with three children, decided to make their home there.

The year was 1952.  George had accepted a job with the Ada Evening News. They decided to check out the Byng community because they had heard that it had good schools.

Their first encounter with Byng turned out to be a most unusual one. Since George was working Dorothy checked the classified ads for Byng property. Then one day she set out, with three little boys in tow, to drive around the community and to locate advertised property. She happily was seeing things that she liked---such as houses with lots of trees. But, she turned down one road that had little gravel and soon found her and the boys stuck in deep, oozy mud! Dorothy's quote: "The boys and I conferred. There were no houses for at least half a mile and certainly no phones. Our dad would not be off work for another four hours. What were we to do? While we were contemplating our situation, a group of young male teenagers drove by, saw our predicament and pulled us out. We drove gingerly back to Highway 99 with a warm feeling about the community. Nice people do live here."

Dorothy had some college hours from Texas and decided to enroll in East Central State College and finish her teaching degree. Upon completion, she was hired to teach in the Byng system in the fall of 1955.

Dorothy had a very outstanding teaching career which impacted innumerable students in a positive way while teaching English, Speech, and Journalism. She also was a Counselor and was an accomplished grant proposal writer. She worked with Mr. Marvin Stokes, Superintendent and received many grants for the Byng system.

Dorothy's talent was expanded as her work with Indian Education allowed her the privilege of writing a series of books. After exhaustive research and numerous interviews with Native American authorities she authored five books: The Indian Way Series: Seminoles and Creeks, Chickasaws, Cherokees, and Choctaws. A spin-off of this series was The How Book of Being Indian. Later she collaborated with Freda Flatt on a children's book entitled The Hunter Who Was Not So Great.

The Milligan family was certainly an asset to the Byng community as they were always actively involved in the various activities.

The love of and participation in the church was significant to the Milligan family. They joined and became active in the New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church when they moved to Byng in 1952. In 1961 the church became a Southern Baptist Church.

Over the years Dorothy served as Sunday School teacher, church secretary and church clerk. She also attended and supported Baptist Women and helped with many showers and funeral dinners. You could say she was the #1 cheerleader for all the various activities of the church! George served as a deacon and sang in the choir. He and Paul mostly built the cabinets in Fellowship Hall.

Dorothy was an avid early morning walker, often with community friends. She also swam several days a week.

For many years Dorothy was well known for her humorous, but often touching articles for the Ada News. She very cleverly wrote about the residents and activities of Byng. It was read and enjoyed by many in the Ada area.

This dear, sweet lady will be missed by family and friends----- REST IN PEACE

Enjoy your joyful celebration in your Heavenly Home

Preceded in death by: Husband George D. Milligan, Mother Kate Smith Brown, Father William Oscar Brown, Sister Augusta Lavern Howard Brown, Brothers Gene Brown and Romey Imo Brown, Sons - Richard Paul Milligan, Ralph William Milligan, George Timothy Milligan

Survivors Daughter-in-laws - Loyce Milligan of Gentry, AR, Abby S. Milligan Barron of Ada, OK, Darla Herndon of Kingston, OK, Grandchildren - Timothy Dean Milligan of Altus, AR, Dawna Michele "Chele" Milligan Reeves and husband Thomas Reeves of Parkville, MD, Steve Milligan and wife, Amy of Rogers, AR, Jerad Milligan of Tahlequah, OK, Eddie Nickerson and wife Sheena of Tulsa, OK, Great Grandchildren - Paul Thomas Reeves, Garion Riley Milligan, Cassidy Norris Milligan, Shanae Nichole Milligan, Taylor Dawn Milligan, Nieces - Amy Simpson-Krosp and husband, David Krosp and Cindy Krosp of Oklahoma City, OK