Obituary of Audra G. Stoner-McMillian

Audra G. Stoner-McMillian, age 43 of Woodstock, GA and formerly of Yankton, passed away at Northside Hospital, Sandy Springs, GA on Thursday, September 5, 2013. Memorial Service will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, September 28, 2013 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Yankton, SD, with Rev. Dave Wildermuth officiating. Visitations will be one hour prior to the service at the church. The Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, SD is assisting with service details. Audra G. Stoner McMillian was born on January 11, 1970 in Columbus, NE to the loving parents of Dr. Dan and Dawn Stoner. She was referred to as the best birthday present her mother ever received as she was born on her mother's birthday. At the age of two, the family moved to Yankton, SD where her father entered into partnership with Dr. Robin Hacecky of Veterinary Supply and Services. Audra went her entire 13 years of school in Yankton, graduating in 1988. Audra excelled in 4-H, winning national trips to the Western Round Up in Denver and the Washington D.C. Focus trip as well as 4-H International in Chicago for her excellence in the bread division. In addition she won many state awards and was Yankton County 4-H Queen in 1987-88. She wrote a weekly article for the Observer called Focus on 4-H. Audra was active in both dance and music and performed in numerous recitals. From the age of 16, when she started her first job, she was the delivery girl for Pied Piper Flowers in Yankton. Audra graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Technology. While at the university she joined Alpha Chi Omega sorority where she served as Vice President of finances and house manager. She was also the treasurer of Phanellenic the student governing body of the women's Greek organization on campus. She was on the University of Minnesota Dairy judging team which came in second in the nation. Upon graduation she went to work for SAF Yeast in Minneapolis and then for Quest Ingredients where she lived in Sarasota, FL. In 1996, she joined Kerry Ingredients with US operations based in Beloit WI. She was then transferred by Kerry to England working there for 7 1/2 years before being transferred back to the states, settling in the Atlanta area. She had been happily employed by Kerry for 17 years. One of her most honored work accomplishments was leading her team to be awarded the Domestic Vendor of the year at the Focus Brands 2007 Worldwide Franchisee Conference in Orlando, FL. Geoff Hill, President of Cinnabon, presented the award to Kerry Account Manager, Audra Stoner. This same award was again presented in 2008 and 2009. Prior to returning to the states she joined PEO Chapter K in Yankton, SD having the honor of being initiated by her mother, who was the chapter president in 2004. In 2006, Audra demitted to PEO Chapter BI in Woodstock, GA. She has also maintained her membership at Trinity Lutheran Church in Yankton, SD. Audra met her soul mate and love of her life, Jeff McMillian, in 2010. A fabulous wedding followed on October 1, 2011 in Cancun, Mexico attended by family and friends from 10 states and 2 foreign countries. Following their honeymoon, they settled in Woodstock, GA. Audra is survived by her husband, Jeff; her mother, Dawn Happes Stoner of Yankton, SD; her beloved brother, Darrell of Fountaintown, IN and his significant other, Michelle Janiak; and her mother-in-law, Barbara McMillian of Decatur, GA. Also surviving are her aunts, Una Schusler of Hinckley, IL, Gail (Pedro) Beildeck of Hertford, NC, Sandra (Rod) Allen of Homer, NE; and her uncle, Ken (Judy) Stoner of Homer, NE; numerous cousins; two very special "nieces"; and a world of friends. She was grateful for the excellent care she received from doctors and nurses who cared for her at Northside Hospital in Sandy Springs, GA following her diagnoses of AML Leukemia on February 2, 2013. She was preceded in death by her father, Dr. Dan Stoner of Yankton, SD in 1997, her beloved maternal grandparents, Donald and Clare Happes of Aurora, IL, her paternal grandparents, Bernard and May Stoner of Homer, NB, also one aunt, Faye Happes Caisse of Batavia, IL, and one uncle, Keith Schusler of Lee, IL.