Perlene "Nanny" Milligan

Perlene “Nanny” Milligan passed away suddenly on September 9, 2022. She had been in poor health for the last year and had to live with her only daughter and son-in-law Judy and Lane Cook. She was born in Vonore as Ida Perlene Shirk. She was one of 10 children of James and Addie Caroline Shirk. She worked for several years at City Drug and various pharmacies as a pharmacy tech, enjoyed greeting the public. She was married to John Milligan for 67 years. John was a manager for W.T. Grant stores. They lived for a while on Jeckyll Island and enjoyed the beach very much. After Grants went out of business, John worked for the Boston Store on Gay Street in Knoxville. Then he moved to Family Dollar stores for many years, working until he was 75 years old. After John died in 2015 of advanced Parkinson’s disease, she lived alone until she had fallen a few times and it was no longer safe. She loved Maryville high school football games, traveling to tournaments as well as local games but really enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren, especially cooking for them. She lumped her favorites into the category of “good eaters.” She loved to laugh and would find the most mundane situations hilarious and would laugh for minutes over them. She was a big fan of Jewelry TV, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy, tennis matches and UT basketball. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Judy and Lane Cook, her granddaughter and son-in-law Christy and Tracy Trotter, her granddaughter and son-in-law Katy and Michael Bronkema and their three children Caden, Carson, and Kinsley. Her grandson Braden Dill, a new graduate of UT School of Pharmacy now works for Walgreens and was always special to Perlene. She was a frequent babysitter for Lane’s son Jeremy Cook, who belonged to the “good eater” club. Her granddaughter and son-in-law Hayley and Braxton Wilson live in Brentwood and have her latest greatgrandchild, Collier who is now 4 ½ months old. The Wilsons always had a special place in her heart. Family and friends will assemble at 1:00 PM Sunday, September 18, 2022 for Graveside Service and Entombment at Grandview Mausoleum Chapel where she will reside next to her beloved husband, John Milligan. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com