Mildred M. (Millie) Smith Fannan 88, Olathe, KS passed away Thursday, September 20, 2018 at the Olathe Hospice House with her family by her side.
Millie was born January 19, 1930 in LaCygne, KS, the 8th of 10 children of Harry and Bertha Smith. On June 23, 1947, she married James M. Fannan in Olathe, Kansas. During their early years of marriage, Jim and Millie traveled extensively throughout the Midwest and South as Jim worked pipeline construction. In 1958 they settled in Freeman, MO and then moved to Harrisonville, MO in 1993. In 2016, they moved to Olathe, KS to be closer to family.
Millie was a devoted Christian, reading scriptures every day. She was baptized at the Freeman Christian Church on March 20, 1960 where she served as a Sunday School Teacher, Vacation Bible School Teacher and a Deacon.
Millie was a devoted wife and mother who valued education. She continued to learn all her life, setting an example for her children to pursue additional education. Millie was a homemaker and the focal point of all her family’s activities. Her passion was spending hours on the phone with her family and friends keeping them connected. Millie had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh.
Millie is survived by her husband of more than 71 years, James M. Fannan, her daughter Linda Coble (Ken) Theodosia, MO, her son James P. Fannan, Lone Tree, CO, her daughter Lisa Fannan (Bonnie Wilhoit) Olathe, KS and her son Timothy Fannan (Cyndi) Tampa, FL; her grandchildren, Jeff Coble, Angela Clements, James D. Fannan, Rachel Fannan, Jordan Wilhoit, Joshua Fannan, Heather Fannan, Cheyanne Fannan, and a great-grandson, Zane Clements; her sister Margaret Goddard (Walter) of Harrisonville, MO and numerous nieces and nephews.
Millie was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Richard Smith, Roy Smith, Edgar Paul (Bud) Smith and Howard Lee Smith, and sisters, Genevieve Saunders, Marjorie Tribby, Marguerite Tribby and Mary (Betty) LaMar, a sister-in-law Bonnie Smith and one step-grandson Christopher Fannan.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 am. Friday, September 28, 2018 at the First Christian Church, 400 S. Independence St., Harrisonville, Missouri with burial in the Freeman Cemetery, Freeman, Missouri.
Family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 27, 2018 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri.
The family suggests anyone wishing to make a donation in Millie’s memory may send it to the Olathe Health Hospice House.
