Tony Allen McMillan

Tony Allen McMillan, 71, died Tuesday, September 15, 2009, at Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, Texas. The son of Eva Lorena (Williams) and Ruben Arnold McMillan, Tony was born on November 20, 1937 in Marietta, Oklahoma. In 1955, he graduated from Gruver High School in Gruver, Texas, and in September, 1955, moved to Abilene to attended Abilene Christian College, now Abilene Christian University. He graduated from ACC in 1959. Tony married Gail Lee on December 22, 1955 in Gruver. Except for brief periods of time spent in Vermillion, South Dakota, Clarksville, Texas, and Little Rock, Arkansas, Abilene had been their home. Tony was Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Taylor County Expo Center in Abilene, and a member of Hillcrest Church of Christ. In support of his children and many other youths, he was involved in numerous associations including Cub Scouts, Little League Baseball, 4-H and 4-H Horse Club, FFA, and the Wylie Rodeo Club. During his years with the Taylor County Expo, his influence was far-reaching as he served as member and past officer of the Texas Association of Fairs and Events, and was inducted into the Texas Association of Fairs and Events Hall of Fame in 2008. His parents preceded him in death. Tony is survived by his wife, Gail Lee McMillan of Abilene; sons, Mark Allen McMillan and wife, Kim, of Abilene, and Brent Lee McMillan and wife, Renea, of Coleman; and daughters, Tonya Lynn Ward and husband, Rick, of Weatherford, Becky Spohn and husband, Danny, of Clyde, and Stacy Rene McElfresh and husband, Dennis, of Midland. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren, Luke and wife Emily, Cole, and Guy McMillan; Brittni and Whitney McMillan; Jason Ward; Hunter Spohn; and Ryder, Rowdy, and Eva Marie McElfresh; sisters, Vicki Silva and Mary Gail Byers and husband, Poke, all of Tellico Plains, Tennessee; mother-in-law, Violet Lee of Abilene; uncle and aunt, G.C. and Polly Williams of Callisburg, Texas; and many loved nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 18, at Hillcrest Church of Christ with Terry Brown officiating. Interment will follow in Potosi Cemetery directed by The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Hillcrest Church of Christ, 650 E. Ambler. Pallbearers will be Bundy Cardwell, Bonner Cardwell, David Varner, Gary Varner, Dan Shake, Chris Cummings, Jim Tom Beeman and Les Bruce. Honorary pallbearers will be Bob Hale, Rocky Brooks, Tommy Broyles and Mike Beeman. Memorials may be made to the Tony McMillan Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o West Texas Fair & Rodeo, 1700 Hwy 36, Abilene, TX 79602; Disability Resources, Inc., P.O. Box 1880, Abilene, TX 79604; or American Kidney Foundation, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 1010, Rockville, Maryland 20852.