Anna Geraldine (Deanie) Milligan was born May 16, 1942, and passed away peacefully on February 11, 2025.  She leaves behind a son, Dan Milligan (wife, Debbie), a daughter Cheryl Marsh (husband, Gary), granddaughter Courtney Boyd (husband, Chase, children Lucy & Dillon) and granddaughter Hailee Milligan.  She is also survived by her brother Sonny Jernigan and sister, Mozelle Williams, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and dear friends.
Our mom, Deanie, was the truest example of what it means to have a servant's heart.  She always put the needs of others before her own.  Her personal motto was JOY (Jesus, Others, Yourself).
She was always there to care for her family – caring for sick and aging relatives, dropping everything to care for or pick up grandkids on short notice, always making room for us (and all those we brought in with us) into her home, at her table, or in her beautiful backyard with open arms and a warm smile.  Some of her happiest memories were planning an elaborate garden party themed birthday party for her granddaughter Courtney and hosting a girl scout bridging event in her backyard for her granddaughter Hailee's girl scout troop.  She loved her little "Missy-Poos" as she always called them (even when they became adults.) She so enjoyed being a Gea and a Gea Gea. She was not necessarily a pet person, but her kids were… so yes, she "babysat" (in her house!) Dan & Debbie's dog when they went on their honeymoon and she let Cheryl bring home a stray cat, which then proceeded to have kittens under the bed.
She was always there to lend a helping hand to her church – serving in many roles (including choir member, Sunday School teacher for children, teens and adults, and Sunday School secretary) at First Baptist Church Hebron where she was a member for over 70 years.  She had hoped to one day serve as a foreign missionary.
She was a valued co-worker and friend – Deanie began working in 1960 and retired in 2008. She held various jobs during that time but spent the last 24 years of her career working as an administrative assistant for Thomson Reuters where she made many lifelong friends who valued her for her hard work, self-less nature, and her prize-winning jambalaya recipe.
She loved the outdoors and nature.   She loved gardening and, like her parents before her, she always had the most amazing backyard filled with trees, flowers, winding rock pathways, decorative garden figures, bridges, trains, and numerous bird baths, along with bird and squirrel feeders.
She leaves us with a true example of what it means to be a blessing to others, and we hope to live up to her legacy.
A funeral service will be held at 3 pm on Monday, February 17, 2025, at First Baptist Church Hebron. Interment will follow at Furneaux Cemetery in Carrollton.
In honor of Deanie, please consider a donation to Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation
https://tpwf.org
Peter 1:8: "You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy."