Janice Elaine McMillen, known by Elaine, died peacefully in her bed at the age of 78 on June 22, 2023, surrounded by family. She was dearly loved by her children, grandchildren, family, and friends.

Elaine was born to Oscar and Lou Lee Ligon on February 20, 1945, in Lebanon, Tennessee, where she joined her older brother Charles ("Chuck"). Her younger brother, Larry, joined them later, making Elaine the middle child and only daughter. Her childhood was filled with love, laughter, lots of time with her large extended family, and of course many pranks by her brothers, including the time Chuck pulled a pine tree down by its top and sat her on it to "hold it down" while he stepped away leading to a nice big headache after she flew through air and landed several feet away. Some of her favorite childhood memories were the times her parents took her and her brothers to the small country grocery store they owned in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee and let them watch the small TV while drinking a Coke.

After graduating from Mt. Juliet High School, Elaine spent time in Cape Canaveral, Florida, where she worked as a secretary at NASA during some of the Apollo missions. She later returned to Tennessee and met James T. McMillen one day at her aunt's office. They married six months later and had two children, Rachel (McMillen) Grier and Shayne McMillen.

Around 1983/84, Elaine moved with her family to Corpus Christi, Texas. She was a wonderful mom to her two children and was their biggest advocate and supporter. While she worked as a paralegal for a law firm and then her husband, she always found time to attend her children's school and after school events. She welcomed their friends into their home, and many of these friends considered her their second mom. She and her family attended St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church for many years, where she also watched her son participate in scouting. One of her proudest moments was Shayne earning his Eagle Scout and pinning her.

After her children moved away and she and her husband parted ways, Elaine stayed in Corpus Christi, living a life full of friends, her work as a busy bookkeeper and occasional paralegal, and visits from her children and later grandchildren. For a while, she played piano for the Church of Reconciliation Episcopal Church with several of her friends.

Elaine was a doting grandmother to her three grandchildren, Isabella Autumn Grier, Micah Lennon Grier, and Juliet Elaine Grier, and never missed a chance to spoil them with perfect little gifts when they visited her, or she visited them. She sewed many outfits and toys for her grandchildren. She attended sporting events, plays, and church events with them whenever she was in town and particularly when living with them. But her favorite thing to do was just spend time with them. She spoke to her children and grandchildren often, particularly her daughter with whom she spoke almost every day. She would also talk about her children and grandchildren and their accomplishments, however big or small, to anyone who would listen, because her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy.

She recently moved to Austin with her son and his wife, Sierra. She was so proud of Shayne and his return to college to study accounting. She often spoke of how well they treated her and how much she enjoyed this time with them, particularly snuggling up in the living room to watch movies.

She then moved to Houston to live with her daughter where she enjoyed spending time with her family, heckling her son-in-law, Jason, and rooting on her grandchildren when they played soccer and lacrosse. In true fashion, she became fast friends with Robin Smogoleski, her daughter's mother-in-law, and they spent many days laughing and talking. She also enjoyed watching Blue Bloods, MacGyver, and any NCIS show, no matter how many times she had seen the episodes.

We would be remiss not to mention her many wonderful friends across the country, all of whom still speak highly of her, love her and will miss her dearly.

Elaine is survived by her loving daughter, Rachel Grier, and her husband, Jason, of Houston, Texas and her loving son, Shayne McMillen, and his wife, Sierra, of Austin, Texas; her grandchildren Isabella, Micah and Juliet Grier; her many cousins in Tennessee and North Carolina; and her many friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Lou Lee Ligon; her brothers, Charles and Larry Ligon; her many aunts and uncles; and some of her best friends.

A memorial service will be held at The Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church (700 S Upper Broadway St., Corpus Christi, Texas 78401) on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 10 am. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center, where Elaine was once treated and cured of stage 1 lymphoma. Service Information A memorial service will be held at The Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church (700 S Upper Broadway St., Corpus Christi, Texas 78401) on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 10 am. Funeral Service Saturday 22 Jul 10:00 am ~ The Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church 700 S Upper Broadway St., Corpus Christi, Texas 78401