Polly Mcmillan

Polly McMillan

It is with great sadness that the family of Polly Anne McMillan of Wichita, Ks announces her passing. After living a full life of 93 years, she departed this life early in the morning of February 15, 2025. Polly was born in Clay Center, Ks on August 23, 1931 to Jacob W. and Paulyne E. Peckham. During the height of the Great Depression, Polly and her family moved to California where her dad sold neon signs and her mother worked as a cosmetologist. There her brother Jay joined the family. Paulyne decided that it was time to return home to Kansas and the family built a home in Wichita, Ks. In 1949, Polly graduated in the top of her class from East High School and attended Wichita University where she earned a degree in Elementary Ed. Her Senior year of high school she went on a blind date with Calvin L. McMillan of El Dorado, Ks. His five-year determined pursuit began a sixty-seven-year marriage, on August 14, 1954, the “hottest day” of the year. The couple settled in an attic apartment in Topeka, Ks where Calvin was finishing up Law School and she taught first grade. While Calvin served two years in the army, Polly lived in Lawton, Oklahoma on base, and returned to Wichita while Calvin served in Japan. When he finished his service, the two settled in Wichita where Polly again taught first grade until she had their first child, Scott. In 1958, the couple purchased their first home on Edgemont Place where the couple welcomed a new daughter Carrie in 1962, and completed their family in 1965 with daughter Sally. After attending The First Baptist Church a “few times,” the couple decided to cross the street and find out “what the Methodists were doing.” Polly and Cal became time honored members of the newly established Double Ring Sunday School class, which quickly became a center point for the young families through week-ends at Camp Wood, or the annual barbeque at Calvin and Polly’s farm in the flint hills. At the church she served on many committees but really enjoyed heading the Church Archives and coordinating church dinners into a very time efficient method on “how the church kitchen should be run,” complete with checklists. For years, she proof read the church newspaper and was a prominent and active member of the church. In 1974, the couple moved to Spring Acres and Polly became the official manager of 3 acres and a pool that she only got into once. Polly really enjoyed her time on the mower, probably because she didn’t have to stop what she was doing and help Calvin with whatever project he was doing. Still, the two enjoyed gardening together and Polly was dedicated to canning, making homemade applesauce, and jams of all kinds. Cooking and Baking were always one of the best of Polly’s talents. However, one of her finest gifts was the art of sewing. Being a child of the depression, Polly sewed beautiful clothes for herself, her children, and eventually her two grand-children. For years she created the best Halloween costumes a kid could dream of, from Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, a pumpkin, Captain Jack Sparrow and Elizabeth, Anakin Skywalker, Greek Goddess, a Civil War soldier, and a Knight in Shining Armor. When her granddaughter was in the school musical, she made a full authentic medieval gown and overcoat. She could sew or embroidery anything. Both grandchildren took “grandma’s patchwork quilts” to college complete with grass-stained jean patches earned honestly by weeding. When Polly’s mobility began to fade, she discovered she could still sew and spent many hours embroidering tea towels for Christmas along with croqueting dish clothes. All the while, making sure that she had baby blankets and special things done and put back for future great-grand-children. Polly was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandma. She was a Girl Scout leader, room mother, car pool driver, care-giver, and all the good things in life. Polly is survived by her son Scott, daughter Carrie, daughter Sally (Michael) Smith, grand-children, Rachel (Austin) Gold, and Gavin Smith, her sister-in-law Phylis Strand of Florida, cousin Bette Madler of North Dakota, nephew Jef Peckham of Kansas and many more beloved nieces and nephews. The Memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 11:00 at First United Methodist Church in Wichita, KS. Memorial donations can be made to the Wichita Girls Scouts or First United Methodist Church television ministry or flower fund.