Delainey Millikan

Delainey Elizabeth Millikan came to brighten our world on March 28, 2003, in Liberal, Kansas to Lance Millikan and Macy (Mullens) Millikan, becoming Landon’s bubbling baby sister. From an early age, she began to steal the hearts of everyone who knew her, and some who did not, because she never met a stranger. When she was a baby, her great-great grandpa said she had a “million-dollar smile” and she even had the dimples to go along with it. 

As a toddler, she went missing one day, with the whole family frantically searching for her, until she was finally located having a “chat and popcorn” with the next-door neighbor lady. Although they didn’t even speak the same language, they connected in their hearts. She continued being a “people person”, touching many lives, until she took her final breath. 

Delainey attended school in Beaver, Balko, and Edmond before graduating from Liberal High School in 2021. She attended Oklahoma State University prior to making her home in Woodward, Oklahoma, because she wanted to be closer to her family. She proudly graduated from High Plains Technology Center, with an LPN degree in May, 2024 and loved her job, the patients and work family at Newman Memorial Hospital in Shattuck, where her big heart and compassionate spirit made her a wonderful nurse. 

Although she had a big, kind heart, she was also known to have a lot of spunk and as a young girl she enjoyed tagging along with her big brother, Landon. One of Landon’s friends once said, “Delainey is the only girl I’m afraid of”. 

She earned the nickname “Junie B” from her Nana and Papa when they took her on many road trips and read the Junie B. Jones books while traveling. If you knew Delainey, you could very well think the ornery kindergarten girl in the story, with all her many antics, was our very own “Junie B”. 

When she was five years old, while on a trip to Red River, she built a boat out of wood scraps and painted it bright yellow. They told her she needed to name her boat. It didn’t take her long before she said, “my boat is going to be called “Sunshine”, such a fitting name because Delainey was most definitely a ray of sunshine in so many lives. 

As a child, Delainey loved attending First Baptist Church, Beaver, where she enjoyed Sunday School, Awana, VBS, Children’s Camp and other activities. It was there that she gave her life to Jesus and was baptized on August 18, 2013. She later enjoyed being a part of the youth groups and attending services regularly at Balko Baptist Church and New Beginnings Church in Liberal. Most recently she enjoyed attending Ignite Church in Woodward. 

She loved being a “mother hen” to her baby brother, Levi, her cousins, and several foster children in the family before becoming a proud big sister to Beaud and aunt to Lennox. 

Delainey found her “soul mate”, William Robert “Will” Hoffman, in February with what seemed a meeting by “chance” but they both soon realized this was a divine encounter. Even though their time was short they both loved each other with all their hearts and were looking forward to a wonderful life together. She especially enjoyed loving on Will’s beautiful daughter, Carter, and they were both extremely excited to welcome their own “Little Bean,” as Delainey affectionately called their baby, who was to be here in February. Will’s parents, Bill & Trudy; sisters, Taylor, Taitum & Baylee and his nieces and nephews quickly came to adore Delainey and she returned that love and was so thankful to be a part of their wonderful family as well. 

She lived her life to the fullest, loved fiercely, was not afraid to take a risk and saw the good in others which brings to mind the quote “It’s so much darker when a light goes out than it would have been if it had never shone”. She was always ready to let her light shine! 

The family has been extremely blessed with story after story of someone sharing a kind deed that Delainey did for them or receiving her great big hugs over the years. They ask, as a tribute to Delainey, that you pass on a kind deed and share many, many hugs in her honor. 

She always had a giving spirit, making it no surprise that she was an organ donor. It brings great comfort knowing that she will live on through others and that she made the most important decision of her life in accepting Jesus as her Savior. We look forward to the day we are with her again but until then know she is “chatting” and hugging everyone in Heaven. 

Delainey was predeceased by Great-Great Grandpa ~ Carl Owens; Great Grandparents ~ Joyce & C.L. Ritter; Great Grandparents ~ Dwaine & Billie Jean Bleeker, Great Grandfather ~ Arthur Downs; Great Grandparents ~ Nevin & Lorraine Millikan and Step-Grandpa ~ Danny Morse. 

Mourning our loss, cherishing our memories and so thankful for lessons she has taught us in life are her Dad and Bonus Mom ~ Lance & Amber Millikan; Mom and Bonus Dad ~ Macy & Josh Myers, Brothers ~ Landon & Katie Millikan, Levi Millikan, Beaud Millikan; Fiancé’ & “Daughter by Heart” ~ Will Hoffman & Carter; Great-Great Grandma (Nana Lou) ~ Sylvia Owens; Great Grandma ~ Donna Downs; Papa & Nana ~ Larry & Tammy Millikan; Grandma & Grandpa ~ Debbie & Jim Holterman; Step Grandparents ~ Neill & Barbara Myers; Step-Grandma ~ Tommie Morse; Step-sisters ~ Macy Perkins & Matti Perkins; Step-sister ~ Angelina Glitsch; Step-brothers ~ Bart Myers & Krister Myers; Step-nieces ~ Karter Perkins & Blakely Perkins; Step-nephew ~ Bentley Perkins and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends too numerous to mention. 

Family has suggested in lieu of flowers a memorial in Delainey Millikan's name  to the Nursing program High Plains Technology Center 3921  34th St. Woodward, OK.  73801.