Joyce A. McMillin, 56 surrendered her will and spirit April 13, 2005 at Hospice House, culminating a two and half year fight for her life.

Joyce was born January 25, 1949 in Klamath Falls, Oregon to Charles and Edna Zeek. She was reared near Waldport on the Oregon Coast, then in Lebanon, Oregon. She graduated from Lebanon Union High School then completed three years of undergraduate work at the University of Oregon in Fine Arts.

She married Gary Holbrook, supporting his degree from UO, then a law degree from Gonzaga University. Divorced in 1980, she worked as an office manager for CAL-ORE Machinery Company in Spokane and Portland.

Joyce married Tom in 1981 followed by 8 lean years gold mining exploration throughout the Northwest and a 2 year joint mining venture with Neal Degerstrom in the jungle of Corcovado/Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica.

Returning to Richland, Joyce served to conclude thirty years of Tom's heavy construction business, McMillin Brothers. She spent the next 5 years with WPPSS and then onto Bechtel Hanford for 5 years working on the ERC Contract as Manager of field training. In the process, Joyce acquired her B.A. in Business Administration and her certification in Human Resources at WSU Richland, the facility which was constructed by her husband in 1967.

Joyce formed the Tri-Cities Memorial Committee with Tom and John Daly, creating the conceptual design for the new Regional Veterans Memorial in Columbia Park, all consumed every spare hour, nights, and weekends. She had planned a ribbon cutting ceremony upon its completion on Saturday, May 21. Her effort, achievement and resolve earned the admiration of her many associates at Bechtel and the Memorial construction. Such was her strength, promoting General Bob Frix of the memorial committee, her nickname ''True Grit''. Small but mighty.

She was an accomplished deep sea fisher, acquiring the highly coveted distinction, membership in the exclusive Tyee Club of British Columbia, hauling an 70 pound Tyee salmon out of the Frenchman's Pool at Campbell River, then, many more from the Ho and Bogachiel at Forks and several sailfish and a giant marlin in Costa Rica. Her passion for the sport was delayed in undertaking the memorial project but leaving this splendid achievement as her legacy to the community.

Joyce, a stepmother of six worked to provide Tom's kids from KHS with degrees from WSU gaining the distinction, the most prolific tuition payer. Surviving her is Tom, and the McMillin kids Michelle Evans of Los Alamos, Mike & Pat of Boise, Scott of Seattle, Tom of Pebble Beach, and Mary & John Presley and their mother Jacqueline of Houston. Grandkids Ben Gilmore and mom Jolene, Tyler Evans of U of W, and Matthew & Sandy in Boise, Travis, Austin, and Zachary in Houston. To her perpetual lament, no granddaughters. Brothers Earl Zeek in Lebanon, Oregon, Charles and Harold. She was preceded in death by her mom, Edna, last month and her dad Chuck in 1995.

Our sincere gratitude to Drs. Penny Stringer, Tom Rado and Tom Trotta. Also, to Moe Frix and Carol Collins for maintaining the all night vigils at Kadlec during the past week plus Tom Logan's Bechtel crew for their support.

Not the least are Dennis Poland, Bill Lampson, George Grant, Dennis Shepard, Doug Winters, Tom Matheson, and Terry Meier and the rest of the guys who stepped up with thousands of dollars in sweat, concrete, steel, diesel to create the Memorial. The community knows you well and the depth of your deeds. Joyce's everlasting gratitude to you.

Paul Parish has enabled all veterans and Joyce's friends to celebrate her life and achievement at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 23rd at the Memorial in Columbia Park.