Friends honor memory of Hononegah alumni, community volunteer

SUBMITTED PHOTO The Herald
Christine Lawyver and Millicent took part in the Rockton American Legion meat raffle.

By Marianne Mueller

Reporter

Millicent Vick Christopher made a true mark on the Rockton community through volunteerism that reached higher levels. She was a 1983 graduate of Hononegah High School. Millicent married August Christopher on May 14, 1994. Her parents are Don and Ruth Vick. She greatly loved her canine companion Louie.

Christopher passed away on May 26, 2020 leaving behind a great legacy. She was a member of the Rockton Lions Club, the Rockton American Legion Post 332 Ladies Auxiliary and the Hope Foundation. Mellany’s dog walk events resulted in a pet therapy program being launched at Mercy Health Hospital in 2013.

Best friend Mary Morgan and Millicent met in seventh grade in 1977. “We went to middle school, high school and college at U of I together. When we were at UIC we lived together. My memories are so abundant,” said Morgan.

“We drifted apart for a while because I got married right after college. Millicent was a Bridesmaid in my wedding. We kept in periodic contact up until about eight to 10 years ago. We reconnected and it was like we had never been apart.

“We moved away but would come back to Rockton and stayed at Mill and Auggie’s home; which is more than just a house. It was always an event; and she was the center of it all. The best events were her New Year’s Eve parties. They started at night and resumed again with brunch on New Year’s Day continuing all day.”

“I am so glad we had this past year full of meat raffles, nights at the Legion, dinners out and more. She was my sister of the heart if not blood. She was one of a kind and I am so glad that she I had her in my life for over 40 years!”

Millicent and I played saxophone together in high school,” said Brenda Burns. “Years later we worked at Mercy Health together. I helped her with the pet therapy fundraiser with the dog walk in Rockton each year.

“There are so many fun memories I wouldn’t even know where to begin. Probably one of the funniest things was when she borrowed my reader glasses that I bought for a dollar at the Dollar Tree and she loved them because she could see.

“She went on and on about them. I told her she could keep them. She liked them so much and was so happy about that. She even took a picture of us with my glasses on her. She was a crazy, fun woman’s and she is deeply missed.”
“I remember Millicent from high school. She was always very nice; her smile and laughter was contagious, “said Sherrie O Day.

“Millicent never met a stranger. It didn’t matter how far from home we knew she would know someone. She always embraced a stranger as a friend immediately,” said Kerri Wallace. “Since the day I met her we shared many Thanksgivings and Christmases together, she and Auggie were an Honorary Aunt and Uncle to my children and nieces and nephews. Her heart was bigger than anyone’s; her work on events and for the RMH dog program was all encompassing. Even when hosting a party at home it was all about fun and serving others. Personally she helped me through some of the hardest times of my life; I was never a burden and she was always an ear to listen, to give hugs and comfort. “

“She would do anything for my kids. If we went out of town she would invite Mitchel over for dinner. He wasn’t comfortable with a lot of people but he was so comfortable with the Christophers that he would just wander to their house when he was bored. I told him that he couldn’t do that, he needed to call first. Mill’s response was (even if she was busy) “I don’t care, I am honored that he feels that comfortable with me, he can come anytime.”

“She made everything fun and the world is a sadder place without her.”

My Family met Mill seven years ago, but if you talked to anyone in town they thought she was our real Aunt,” Lindsey and Raelynn Swanson reflect. “Mill was someone you could always count on to listen to you cry, go to any town function with you; a meat raffle, corn boil, a fundraiser for someone she never even met, or almost get arrested at the China Palace on a Thursday night.”

“Mill is truly one of the reasons why we want to live in Rockton and never leave.  She made our town feel like it was something straight out of a storybook.  She knew everyone and talked to anyone.  She didn’t care who you were or what you did; she honestly just made you feel loved.

“I don’t think there could be any greater loss to our town, but to see how much she was loved by everyone only goes to show how much of an amazing person she was.”

“If you have ever attended a party was Millicent was either the hostess or an invited guest she was always the life of the party. She was someone who always brought more than one dish to pass. She loved to cook and loved to feed her friends with her best recipes. I miss her dearly, and I was so excited that she had joined the Rockton American Legion Ladies Auxiliary,” said Auxiliary President and friend, Kathy Staver.

“Millicent and I were recruited the same year to take the Hope Foundation ‘Touch of Spring’ to a new level,” said Shelly Paulson and Christine Lawver. “Chrissy and I took on the silent auction and Millicent took on the decorating plus much more.  She called the event each year a “GALA” and put her heart and soul into it! “Her husband Augie would tell us their entire house was filled with decorations.  She would work on this for months!”

“The HOPE Foundation Galas will never be the same again!”

“Millicent loved her “Tim Stein” pickles from the meat raffles at the Legion.  She would buy a ton of tickets just so she could win pickles! Her pantry is still full of them! ”Millicent had the most generous soul ever.  She always had a hug for everyone and could just light up a room when she walked in.  Millicent’s favorite saying was “It will change your life”- She certainly changed ours!  We miss her so much!”

”We loved her and we send our love and support to Auggie. She is missed every day and her kind spirit,” said Mike and Kim Peavey. “I saw her a week before when she surprised me at the house. I am so glad I had that moment with her; Mill was such a giver,” Kim said.

“Every time you saw Mill you couldn’t help but smile. She was the most positive and thoughtful person you would ever meet, said Jamie Swanson. “I was lucky enough to have met her seven years ago, and immediately it was like we were family and had known each other forever. Mill introduced me to what a meat raffle is, I remember Augie driving us from town to town to catch the next raffle and win some big sausage and to find the next best Bloody Mary, for one of her Birthday celebrations.”

“She loved her family, friends, and town. Millicent Christopher will be forever missed but always remembered.”