Mildred (Millie) Marie Blackwell Thomas Farr

Millie Farr of Cedar Park passed away Sunday, July 10, 2011 following a courageous battle with end stage liver disease. She was a source of inspiration to all who knew her during this time, and is her family’s hero.

Millie is survived by her husband Dennis of 28 years, daughter Kathy Landwermeyer of Cedar Park, TX and her children, son Austin and daughter Allie; son Kurt Thomas of Cedar Park, TX and his son Christian; son Kelly Thomas and daughter-in-law Cheryl of Garden Grove, CA and their son Nash, and step-daughter Stephanie Faigley and husband Garth of Austin, TX and their sons Eddie and Evan; and numerous cousins.

Millie was born February 13, 1941 in Leesville, LA to Edward Blackwell and Ethel Williams Blackwell. Millie grew up in Port Neches, TX, where she graduated from Port Neches – Groves High School. After the birth of her children, Millie began a career that included Customer Service for Dresser Tool in Houston, TX; Branch Manager of the San Antonio office of PME Equip, and Showroom Manager of major Houston and Austin, TX and Costa Mesa, CA Wholesale and Retail Plumbing Supply Houses. Millie and Dennis moved to Colorado in 1986, and started two businesses, Millie a log home dealership, and Dennis a general contracting company. Business was good, but the stock market crash of October 1987 ended that opportunity and they moved on to California.

During Millie’s early career, she purchased a “young” palomino gelding from a horse trader on the side of the road in Houston. She immediately took Rainmaker to a vet to get him checked out, and learned his real age…16. She was upset, but not discouraged; as this horse eventually became the reason she bought her “farm”, a small piece of beautiful Washington County real estate near Chappell Hill. Rainmaker grazed the farm, along side the neighbor’s cattle until 1989. At that time, Millie took the advice of her friends James and Nadine Helmer of Channelview, to stable him at their farm and be able to live out his days in their loving care. Rainmaker was put down and buried at the ripe old age of 40 on the Helmer property.

Beginning in the early 90’s, Dennis and Millie started buying houses to live in, and selling after fixing them up. This venture took them from Austin to Las Cruces, New Mexico; then to Edinburg, Texas; then eventually Cedar Park. Millie was the interior decorator, Dennis the framer, painter, carpenter, and performer of “Honey Do’s”. Along the way, many friends were made and kept; and great memories were stored away for the ages. They once took a personality test, which identified Millie as a Gypsy, and Dennis as an Adventurer. She laughed and laughed, all the while knowing it was true.
Millie retired from the hustle and bustle of business in 2004, and began a new career of home day care. She lovingly cared for a few children at a time, never more than two, and never children from different families. During the spring of 2009, she decided to end that career, and following a short vacation, retired permanently. She was noticeably tired all the time, and after a summer of minor illnesses, finally consulted doctors who eventually diagnosed the illness that took her life.

The family will be forever indebted to Carl Frank, M.D., Millie’s loving Gastroenterologist and his staff; the doctors and staff of Cedar Park Regional Medical Center, St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center, The Wesleyan at Scenic in Georgetown, Hospice Compassus, ComforCare Senior Services, and eventually The Lighthouse at Altemheim in Round Rock where Millie comfortably spent her last hours.

Millie was preceded in death by her father Eddie Blackwell, her Step-father Fred Galloway, her mother Ethel Williams Blackwell Galloway, infant brother George Edward Blackwell, and brother Eddie Ray Blackwell.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial donations be made to the Chappell Hill Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 194, Chappell Hill, Texas 77426 or to a charity of their choice.

Funeral arrangements by Brenham Memorial Chapel, 2300 Stringer Street, Brenham, Texas, 77834. Viewing for family at 9:00am, with service for family and friends Wednesday, July 13, at 10:00am, followed by interment at Prairie Lea Cemetery in Brenham, Texas.