McMillan, Kay Odene
Kay Odene McMillan’s beautiful, loving, fun soul went to be with the Lord on July 31, 2025, at home in Brentwood listening to Keb’Mo’s song, “She Just Wants to Dance”. She was born Kay O. Thompson in Denver, Colorado, to Cullen Richard and Jane Taylor Thompson on September 18, 1959.
She lived in Denver; Casper, Wyoming; Oklahoma City; Denver a second time; and Houston, all before leaving high school. Her mother died from cancer when Kay was 15. Kay graduated from Spring High School in Spring, Texas. Kay graduated in 1985 from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, with an MBA degree in business administration, having earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and management with a minor in economics. Kay moved to Nashville and began a varied and successful career as a bank examiner, loan review examiner, and commercial retail leasing agent.
Kay embraced life with the motto, “Find something fun every day,” and that she did. She was a lifeguard, avid skier, and rollerblader. With a show-stopping smile for everyone, she was extraordinarily creative and fun-loving. She was a vital part of the group known as the Chicago Girls and enjoyed traveling and celebrating at any opportunity. She loved sports of all kinds and was the only back-to-back winner of the family Fantasy Football League trophy. Given her love for music and sports, she started a new career with Best and Axis Security. Within two years and three months, Kay worked securing more than 370 concerts; football, hockey and soccer games; races; and dozens of private events.
She was preceded in death by her parents; infant sister, Page; stepsiblings Russell Hallonquist and Lisa Bair; her first husband, Lowell Berry; and Mitch’s son John.
She is survived by her husband, Mitchell McMillan of Brentwood, and his four children —Anna (JD) Doupe of Santa Maria, California, Wes and Seth of Davenport, Iowa and Luke of Loves Park, Illinois; stepmother, Doris Thompson of Houston; sister, Jill (Dan) Black of Kalispell, Montana; brother Bart Thompson of Magnolia, Texas; aunts Margaret Thompson of Fort Morgan, Colorado, and Marilyn McDermott of Chandler, Arizona; several cousins; in-law parents Larry and Vicki McMillan of Mount Juliet, Tennessee; lifelong friend Jill (Scott) Hallett of Niantic, Connecticut; and friend Maury (Tracy) Littleton of Nacogdoches, Texas.
Kay was a breast cancer survivor of five years and “stepped on her rainbow” because of esophageal cancer, diagnosed in February of this year. Kay’s family are indebted to Dr. Arthur Williams of Franklin; Dr. Ben Park of Vanderbilt; Alive Hospice, especially nurse Brizia Gonzales, who cared for her during her illness the past month; along with special friends, Ann Burcham of Spring Hill, Patricia Latham of Cottontown, and Mary Smith of Brentwood, Tennessee.
Memorial contributions may be made to Shelter Friends of Hickman County, P.O. Box 111, Centerville, TN 37033. Kay and Mitch McMillan will make a significant contribution to Shelter Friends to achieve its dream of constructing an animal shelter which the non-profit has been working on for seven years.
Kay’s Celebration of Life service will be held on August 30 at 1:00 PM at the Church of Christ at Millview – 4370 Murfreesboro Road, Franklin, TN. A reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall.
To view the memorial service remotely, please click the below link.
