Arvil Gene Milligan of Caddo, Okla., received his greatest Christmas present when he passed from this life on Sunday, December 25, 2022, and joined his loved ones and Savior in heaven. He was born on April 22, 1934 to Claude Clay and Minnie May Milligan. 
As a boy, he enjoyed hunting and fishing and wanted to be a rancher when he grew up. When he was a sophomore in high school, his family moved to Caddo and there he made lifelong friends. Many of his favorite stories were about the adventures he had and the pranks he and his friends pulled while in school. It was also there, at a livestock show, that he met Essie Raggett who was the love of his life. They married on April 15, 1954.
He achieved his childhood goal of becoming a rancher. He also enjoyed being a cattle order buyer for others. Since ranching is, in mother’s words, sometimes an expensive hobby, he also spent many years working at Peabody Gallion. The pranks, jokes and friendships made there added to his stories. For many years he was an active member of the Caddo Round Up Club. He was a member of the Church Of Christ. Through the years, he taught Bible classes and shared his love of the Lord. He loved his church family and appreciated all the support and love he received from them. He loved life and sharing stories and entertaining others. He was a loving husband and father and the best PawPaw ever.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Henry Clay; sister, Alta Mae Milligan; brother, Stayton Milligan and brother and sister-in-law, Orgel and Hatsene Milligan.
He is survived by his wife, Essie; children, Ann and husband Russell Prentice and Neal Milligan; grandchildren, David and wife Jaclyn Prentice and Amy and husband Chris Murdock; great-grandchildren, James and John Prentice and Andrew Murdock. 
A funeral service will be held at the Bokchito Church of Christ at 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 29, 2022. John Frank will officiate.
Pall bearers will be John Cain, Benny Green, Gary Owen, Jimmy Pratt, Casey Robinson and Keenan Wingfield. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Hill, Jimmy Jestis and Utah Nation.
Funeral services are under the direction of Brown’s Funeral Service of Durant.
