Evadene (Cullens) Mcmillen

Evadene McMillen, age 97, of Goodland passed away Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at the Goodland Regional Medical Center.

Evadene was born to Will and Vica (Newell) Cullens on September 16, 1927 in Wallace, Kansas. She grew up in Logan County with her parents and 3 brothers. At 9 years old, she met Vern McMillen, who, would one day tell her father that he was going to marry his daughter. He did just that on October 22, 1944 when she was 17 and he was 26.

After Vern got out of the service, they stayed in the Western Kansas area where they had their 3 children, Thomas Walter in 1947, Kenneth Ray in 1948 and Judy Marlene in 1953.

They spent a few years living in Colorado but the majority of their 34 years of marriage were in Sharon Springs where Vern had a Blacksmith shop and she worked at the local grocery store, until Vern's passing in 1978. In 1982 Evadene moved to Goodland and then Colorado in 1988, there she met Allan Sherod. They were together for 34 years till his death in 2023.

When their children were growing up, Vern and Evadene spent many happy weekends camping with good friends from Holly, Colorado. During these years she also enjoyed being on a ladies bowling league in Sharon Springs. She always took great pride in her baking abilities, whether it was a homemade chocolate angel food cake for her sons, a cherry pie for her son-in-law, Texas sheet cake for her grandson, and her homemade cinnamon rolls were always greatly appreciated too. In her later years, she throughly enjoyed watching the many birds that gathered at the backyard feeders that she always kept full. Each spring she did her best to make sure that a colorful variety of flowers decorated her yard.

She was proceeded in death by her parents Will and Vica Cullens; husband Vern McMillen; 3 brothers, Laverne, Bill and Marvin Cullens and their respective wives; one daughter-in-law, Donna; and long time companion, Allan Sherod. Evadene is survived by her children Tom McMillen of Aurora, Colorado, Ken (Sandra) McMillen of Bell, Florida, Judy (Delbert) Smith of Lakewood Colorado; 6 Grand kids, 15 great grandchildren, of which there are 2 sets of twins, 4 great great grand children; one remaining cousin Rosalie Cheney, 98, of Wakeeney; numerous nieces, nephews and their families.

A memorial service is being planned for a later date. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Northwest Kansas Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 128, Goodland, KS 67735