FRIENDS WE WILL MISS

TOMMY E. MILLIORN

Long-time Brangus breeder, Tommy Milliorn, Abilene, Texas, passed away on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at the age of 84. Milliorn was born in Oplin, Texas to Walter Earl Milliorn and Linnie Olive Gwin Milliorn on December 26, 1935. He graduated from Eula High School. He married Ruth Ann Rogers Proffitt on December 3, 2004 in Abilene, Texas. He was a member of Pioneer Drive Baptist church where he attended for many years.

Milliorn moved to Abilene in 1966 to enter the real estate business. He owned and operated Milliorn Realty, which offered property management services and insurance. His true passion was Big Elm Cattle Company ,where he raised quality Brangus cattle. His most fulfilling time was serving on the West Texas Rehab Center Board of Directors, where in 2014, he was honored with the Harry Holt “Good Neighbor” award. Milliorn served in various positions (from member to president) of multiple organizations including the Abilene Board of Realtors, Abilene Home Builders Association, both state and national Association of Realtors, state and national cattle associations, and Hill Country Brangus Breeders. He poured his heart and soul into the West Texas Brangus Breeders Association, where over the years, he filled most positions on the board and was sales committee chairman for many years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Joe Milliorn and one sister, Betty Mae Gable.

Milliorn is survived by his wife Ruth Ann Milliorn, his sister Wilma Johnson of Abilene, Texas, his brother Clarence and wife Sue Milliorn of Eula, Texas and one sister-in-law, Louise Milliorn of Abilene, Texas. He is also survived by several generations of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Randy Carson, Vic Choate, Bob Helmers, Rodger Kennedy, Bobby Melson, Richard Milliorn, and Pete Welch. Honorary Pallbearers include Bill Morrison, Doug Ford, Chuck Erwin, Rafael Morales, Sammy Pierce, and Gayland Townsend.

Memorials may be given to the West Texas Rehab Center or Disability Resources Inc. The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to Annie Morrison, his loving care giver from Visiting Angels, Dr. Victor Hudman, Encompass Rehab and Hendrick Hospice.

SWAYZE ELWYN MCCRAINE, JR.

Longtime Prescott rancher and developer, Swayze Elwyn McCraine, Jr., died October 21 at the Mayo Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona, following heart complications. He was born August 24, 1946 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to S.E. and Martha McCraine. Throughout his school years, showing cattle and other livestock was his passion and he won many state championships, as well as spending every moment he could on his family’s ranch at Woodville, Mississippi. After graduating from Louisiana State University in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in animal science, he went to work for Great Plains Western Corporation, a multi-faceted cattle and grain corporation with ranches in six states.

While managing the company’s Triple C Brangus Ranch near San Antonio, Texas, he met and married Kathy Gary, who was editor of the Brangus Journal. They moved to Whittier, California, in 1976, where Great Plains named McCraine vice president of ranching. In 1978 he left the company to take over 6M Corporation, his family’s ranching operation in Mississippi, where he ran a stocker and cow-calf operation.

Six years later he realized a lifelong dream to ranch in the West when he moved to Prescott, Arizona to be involved with the Gary family’s Horner Mountain Ranch at Dugas. He also joined the development company started by his father-inlaw, Bill Gary, and he developed Granite Oaks Subdivision, Inscription Canyon Subdivision, and the Prescott Airpark in Prescott, Highland Meadows Subdivision in Williams, and later with other partners, The Vineyards at Cottonwood.

Over the years, McCraine’s ranching operation continued to grow. After selling Horner Mountain Ranch in 1995, the McCraines owned the Wagon Bow Ranch and SV Ranch at Wikieup, then the 7 Up Ranch at Prescott, both in Arizona.

He was also active in many livestock organizations and activities. Shortly after moving to Prescott, he took over management of the Arizona Hereford Association Bull Sale; then in 1988, he and Richard Smyer of Prescott Livestock Auction started the Prescott All Breed Bull Sale. In 1992, McCraine was instrumental in turning it all into Cattleman’s Weekend, northern Arizona’s largest livestock event. The Arizona Hereford Association named him Cattleman of the Year in 2005.

Over his lifetime he served as president of the Southeast Brangus Breeders Association, Southwest Brangus Breeders (continued on page 50)