Micki Lorraine Milliken

Micki Lorraine Milliken was born on April 28th, 1932 to Gertrude Clementine and Charles (Skillet) Skiles. She left our lives on June 25th, 2011.
Born the only child of a highly respected auctioneer and a switchboard operator, she became a promising and prominent woman of Lawrence, Kansas, demonstrating great strength and perseverance. Micki was married to Robert Allen Milliken in Lawrence and they brought three children into the world. Robert Charles (deceased), Cynthia Lorraine (Garcia/Spangler) and Sherri Sue (Laird/Bussell). Micki was graced with five grandchildren, Robert Cameron Milliken, Kelsey Lorraine Garcia, Madelynn Denee’ Laird, Cpl. Robert Marvin Laird and Mitchell Allen Laird. Micki is also survived by many relatives in Kansas, Missouri, San Francisco, and the Sedalia, Missouri areas.
In 1965, Micki crossed paths with fame and shared it with her children while working at the Red Dog Inn in Lawrence booking and promoting many famous acts including Jerry Lee Lewis, The Everly Brothers, The Blue Things and Ike and Tina Turner, to name a few. She opened the first 24 hour switchboard/secretarial service in the State of Kansas. She went on to spend the rest of her career as a legal secretary, first in the Kansas City area and then moving on to San Francisco. She returned to Kansas City to help care for four of her grandchildren in 1987. She moved to Lindenhurst, Il in 1992 with the family to stay close to the little ones. She spent her last years in a nursing home in Illinois. Micki died of natural causes, without pain, while maintaining her striking red hair to the end. Micki will always be remembered for her love of life, exceptional spunk and witty ways.
Dear friends, family and acquaintances of Micki L Milliken, please join us in the celebration of her life, and also the best era of Micki’s’ life. Come and share her history and some of your stories with us at Liberty Hall, formerly “The Red Dog Inn,” of Lawrence, Kansas, between 2 and 4 pm on Sunday afternoon, July 17th, 2011. The remaining family members will be there to relive some of her finest years as a great hostess to those who needed a place to belong. Because of her caring and hospitality, many who crossed this threshold were welcomed and treated as family while they became a part of rock and roll history. She always had an open heart and a helping hand to the many who were blessed to know her. Never judging and forever forgiving with her kind manner, her door was always open. Never backing down when she knew what was right, she knew where, when and how to get things done. Never a challenge too daunting for her. Those who knew her will always love her for those qualities and the values she held so dear.
Family interment will be held on Sunday, July 17, 2011 by family members at 10AM in Frankfort, Kansas, followed by a celebration between 2 and 4PM at Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, Kansas. Following that will be yet another ceremony at Fred P. Otts Restaurant, 6700 College Blvd., Overland Park, Kansas from 5:30 until 7:30 PM. Everyone is welcome to attend any or all of these services.