Beverly MacMillan

Beverly MacMillan, 71, passed from this life into the next on July 29, 2009. She was born on May 8, 1938, in Arlington, Mass., to Herbert N. and Grace Smith Snell.

Bev was raised in the Winchester, Mass., area, attended Winchester High School and went on to Chandler School for Women and attained an associate degree in business.

In 1959 Bev met and married Joseph H. MacMillan, which began a life of world travel including time in China and Europe and throughout the U.S. courtesy of the U.S. military. Their travel ended when Joe retired from the military and took a job in Las Vegas, where the family stayed for over 20 years.

Probably Bev’s favorite activity was gathering family and friends for any occasion. It didn’t have to be a recognized holiday, just because it was Tuesday would work as well. She loved to cook and bake; she is well known for many of her recipes and for supplying husband Joseph’s and son Bill’s staffs with cakes, pies and cookies on a daily basis.

In 2005 Bev and Joseph moved to Whidbey Island to be closer to their son Bill and his family, and to escape the dreaded Las Vegas summer heat.

Bev is survived by her husband of 50 years, Joseph of Oak Harbor; her son Stephen and his wife Diane of Las Vegas and Ely, Nev.; daughter Debra and her husband Calvin Hansen of Moreno Valley, Calif.; son William and his wife Gail of Oak Harbor; son Jeffery and his wife Lisa of Ridgecrest, Calif.; daughter Patty of Henderson, Nev.; and son Kenneth and his wife Penny of Las Vegas. She is also survived by her grandchildren Bradley Kienitz, Eric MacMillan, Dayna MacMillan, William MacMillan, Nicholas Hansen, Taylor Charlton, Eric Badgett, Kristin Badgett, Brien Badgett, April Fortenberry, Kaleena Bycroft, Alex MacMillan and Ashley MacMillan. Bev is also survived by her sister Marion Whitney of Ocean Springs, Mass., and her former daughter-in-law Bernadette Schmitz of Las Vegas.

Visitation for Bev was Aug. 3 and Aug. 4 followed by a funeral service for her at Burley Funeral Chapel. A private interment will follow at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Oak Harbor. Family and friends may go online at www.burleyfuneralchapel.com to sign a guest register and leave messages for the family.