Tessie L. Milan was born in the beautiful Ozark foothills of Newton County, Arkansas, on Jan. 20, 1920, to Caney Thompson and Elva Clayborn Thompson. She succumbed to ovarian cancer and passed into heaven on Feb. 10, 2011, at the age of 91. There she joins her son Robert Milan, her sister Pauline Smith, and brother Eugene Thompson.

Tessie is survived by her husband of 63 years, Herman Milan, whom she married on March 15, 1947. Together, they had three children. One who predeceased her as mentioned above, Robert Milan (1967), and two surviving children, Mary Dyer (Davis), of Kaizer, Oregon, and Richard Milan (Elena) of Castro Valley, California. Tessie is also survived by 3 precious grandsons – Matthew Milan (Studio City, CA), Alexander Milan (Austin, TX), and Aaron Milan (Castro Valley, CA) – in addition to her sister Vivian Stewart (James) of Yerling, Nevada, brother Bobby Thompson (Jan) of Orland, California, and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

During World War II Tessie worked for the War Department and later moved out to California to work at the Ford Motor Company in Richmond, California. After spending most of her married life living in Hayward, California, Tessie and her husband, Herman, had resided in Manteca, California for the last 13 years, being blessed with some wonderful neighbors.

Funeral services were held Friday, February 18, at the Park View Cemetery & Funeral Home in Manteca, California, and interment will be at the Golden Gate National Cemetery with her son, Robert.