Vergie S. MacMillan

ATHENS-Vergie S. MacMillan, 93, of The Plains died peacefully on March 11, 2018, at the Lindley Inn. Born Vergie Palma Schmidt on September 17, 1924, in Gresham, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of the late Walter A. and Elise Rockman Schmidt.

In September 1941, Vergie enrolled as a freshman at the University of Wisconsin. Three months later she chose nursing as her major when the country went to war. While completing her clinical rotations at the university hospital, Vergie was continually assigned to the same service as a young intern from Cincinnati, James E. MacMillan. A huge blizzard hit Madison on their wedding day. During the years they raised their family in Terrace Park, Ohio, Vergie was a support to her husband in his family medical practice in the nearby town of Milford. They moved to Athens in 1977.

Vergie was a woman of many talents who loved to share her skills with friends and neighbors. She designed and made many beautiful quilts and crafted detailed miniature furniture out of wood. She knit intricately patterned sweaters and sweet little newborn hats for the hospital. Vergie also loved nature and volunteered as a nature interpreter at the Cincinnati Nature Center. In Athens she and husband Jim were often on the bike path. In years past, they would soon be out looking for the first trilliums of spring.

Vergie was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years and a son, James E. Macmillan, Jr. She is survived by her three daughters, Floy (David) Zittin of Cupertino, California, Karen (Joe) Perez of The Plains, and Gail Macmillan of Villa Park, Illinois; a daughter-in-law Debra Dobbs of Hood River, Oregon; seven grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Vergie would want her long-time friends in Athens and those she got to know so well in the Wyngate community to realize how much their friendship, care, and concern meant to her. Her family is grateful to them and to the dedicated, compassionate staff at Lindley Inn and those at OhioHealth Hospice who were such a blessing at the end of her life.

The family plans a celebration of Vergie's life in the spring. Donations in her name may be made to OhioHealth Hospice, 444 West Union Street, Suite C, Athens, Ohio 45701. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hughes-Moquin Funeral Home where you may sign the online guestbook or send the family a private message of sympathy at www.hughesmoquinfuneralhome.com.