Mildred Bone

1922 - 2021

Born and raised in Dallas, Millie was the eldest of three children of TP and Florence McCollum Miller. She had many stories of life in Texas, including driving a tractor on her aunt and uncle's farm, and watching the tarantulas jump under the streetlights at night. She always carried a bit of Texas with her, even after decades in the Pacific Northwest, with an accent that would return after each phone call with her mother.

As a young adult, she worked in Dallas as a photographic model and as a secretary at Sears. In 1945, she went on a group date and met a dashing Army pilot, Dean W. Bone, in training at Ardmore Air Base. He proceeded to court her with airplane rides and loops and barrel rolls. They were married three months later in Dallas in July, 1945, shortly before the war ended. Moving to Salt Lake City to be near Dean's family, they honed their parenting skills on Dean's young brother Bill, then a toddler, who remained affectionately known as "First Kid" long after a grandfather himself. After several years they began a life of moving throughout the Pacific Northwest every few years for Dean's work. Each of their children was born in a different city, starting with son Terrence, then daughter Bettina, followed by sons Christopher, and Brian.

Millie made friends in each new place, through bridge clubs, Jaycees, the PTA, or Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts and later Washington Pilots. She had a fantastic memory and kept in touch with many of these people the rest of her life. She was extremely faithful about taking pictures at family gatherings and making sure everyone got copies.

The family finally settled outside Seattle, buying a house near Edmonds where Millie spent 55 years. The family acquired a trailer and airplane for excursions throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. A homemaker in the truest sense, Millie filled her children's lunch bags with sandwiches made with homemade bread, home grown and canned pickles and fruits and, most enjoyed, her home made Toll House cookies. She planted gardens for fresh vegetables for dinner, strawberries for breakfast, and flower beds to fill the rooms of her home with the scent of fresh cut flowers. She pored through magazines for recipes to plan different menus and interesting meals, and was known to sing or hum while doing her housework, greeting her family with smiles and a wink.

In addition to managing the home, she also prepared an amazing number of meals for the family's many outings to forests or beaches. One memorable vacation with Dean, Chris and Brian was a road trip to Alaska, a source of many stories since seemingly every possible thing went wrong with the truck and trailer. One year, when wind knocked out the power in Edmonds, she even cooked the Thanksgiving meal in the camp trailer. She was famous for her crescent rolls and chocolate and coconut pound cakes. She could also fashion beautiful owl, crocodile, or whatever, animal shaped cakes for a grandchild's delight on their birthday.

She was a star-gazer, dedicated Seahawks and horse-racing fan, and a voracious reader. Her love of books has flourished in her children.

She loved the beauty of the Northwest, and watched decades of sunsets over Puget Sound.

"She is such a lady!" people always commented, elegant at weddings in her hats and gloves, gracious and smiling. Even in later years when casual in her flannel shirts, and occasional jeans, her southern manners and style showed through, along with a soft "y'all".

Lively, loving and strong-willed, she will be deeply missed. Millie was predeceased by her brother Jimmy (at age 10) and by her husband Dean in 2003. She is survived by her sister Bobbye, her honorary son Bill, children Terry, Tina, Chris and Brian, their spouses, 7 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. She treasured each one.

As we treasured her.

At her request there will be no funeral service, with just family present to rejoin Millie and Dean and scatter their ashes.

In lieu of flowers, Millie was a supporter of public television education and programs and personally donated to KCTS 9, the local PBS station.

March 28, 1922 - May 26, 2021