Milt passed away Monday, February 9, 2015, at Baylor Hospital in McKinney, Texas.
He was born April 25, 1936 near Barnett, Missouri. He graduated from Eldon High School in 1956 and the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1959. Milt married the love of his life, Nancy E. Kays on June 23, 1963 at Faith Lutheran Church in Eldridge, Iowa. They were married more than 51 years.
He worked for Mobil Oil Corporation as a Senior Lubrication Engineer for twenty-seven years. Milt’s career took him and Nancy to several states throughout their marriage, including Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee, Montana and Texas, before retiring in Arizona. He and Nancy moved back to Texas in 2014.
Milt enjoyed family activities ranging from church, boy scouts, youth sports, high school band, and working with his sons to restore two classic Mustangs. Milt loved the outdoors, enjoying camping and traveling. He and Nancy also landscaped their backyard to attract a wide range of wildlife, including hummingbirds, finches and quail.
Milt was a humble and compassionate man who cared for his community. He was a regular blood donor and a registered organ donor. He was active at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Plano, Texas and demonstrated a selfless, volunteer spirit.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy; son Mike and his wife Amy and children Caley and Caden of Prosper, Texas; and his son Dan and his wife Catherine and children Jack and Jim of McKinney, Texas; brother Darrell Kays and his wife Nancy of Springfield, Missouri; sisters, Sharon Hicks of Tremont, Illinois; and Peggy Hicks and her husband Herb of Burlington, Kentucky.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Loyd Arthur and Lena Maud Kays, and his brothers, Paul and Donald Gene.
A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, February 21,2015, at First United Methodist Church, McKinney, Texas with the Reverend Doug Fox officiating. A graveside service will be held at Big Rock Cemetery, Barnett, Missouri at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Wildlife Foundation or the Audubon Society.