Ethel M. Millar

Ethel M. Millar, born August 12, 1917 at home in Berkeley, California, passed peacefully from this earthly life on April 12, 2016 with her children by her side. She is survived by her two children, James R. Millar of Martinez, CA and Kathleen E. Bailey of Lincoln, CA; her two grandchildren, Bret Millar and Morgan Millar, both of Martinez CA and her great grandson, Cameron Millar and his siblings, Natalie and Nicholas, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
She joins her beloved husband, James A. Millar (1905-1984), five sisters (May, Marjorie, Minnie, Mally, Gladys) and one brother (James) in Spirit along with many friends and family members.
Ethel had a happy childhood in Berkeley CA, being the youngest of 8 siblings (one who died in infancy) and raised by a loving mother, Mary Alice Coulson and Aunt Nannie Coulson (of the Falkland Islands) without a father around.
Ethel was an active young girl. She loved after school sports all through grammar and high school and won quite a few awards. She attended The Good Shephard Church in West Berkeley. Her first job was selling candy at Woolworth's on Broadway in Oakland. Her adult life work was General Office and Bookkeeping for more than 40 years. She worked the switchboard at Autometric Machine Co., an auto-parts store which was turned into a shop to make tools for the war. It was here where she met her wonderful husband at age 26. They were married on July 14, 1942. James was drafted into the Army when she was pregnant with their first child. They lived in Richmond CA and later moved to Walnut Creek CA and eventually retired to Paradise CA.
There were many family outings to Lake Tahoe, and other California parks, camping and fishing. Family get-togethers also included lots of music – especially on the Millar side of the family. She and James loved to travel and her favorite trips were road trips through Canada with him and later to Scotland and England and several years later to Europe with her sister-in-law, Dorothy Millar.
Her fondest memories included the yearly family get-togethers starting in Sonora and moving to different family homes as years passed. When she retired, she found volunteering filled her life and she received many blessings in return. She volunteered for over 3000 hours at Feather River Hospital; for her church, Craig Memorial Congregational Church in Paradise, CA; and for Passages Caregiver Resource Center in Chico CA. She made many lifelong friends while volunteering. She missed her church dearly when she moved to Rocklin to be closer to her daughter. Ethel claimed she was "proudest of having a son and daughter who have done so well and provided for her when she became widowed at age 68".
A Celebration of Life is scheduled for May 21, 2016 at 2:00 PM with a reception to follow, at Heritage Memorial Chapel, 6920 Destiny Drive, Rocklin, CA 95677. There is an Eternal Tribute video available for those who wish to view at www.HeritageOaksMC.com (click on Eternal Tributes) and Tributes.com
All are welcome to attend and celebrate Ethel's life. The family would especially like to thank all of the caregivers at Casa de Santa Fe Assisted Living in Rocklin who provided a safe, loving and active environment for Ethel.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Craig Memorial Congregational Church, 5665 Scottwood Rd., Paradise CA 95969.

Kathleen Millar Bailey
865 Boulder Lane
Lincoln CA 95648

Jim Millar
200 Macalvey
Martinez CA 94553