Imogene Gideon

Ellen Imogene Gideon of Mansfield, TX, passed away June 7, 2026 at the age of 92.

Born August 15, 1933 in Prosper, TX, Imogene Gideon was number 8 of 8; she was the baby! Graduating from Prosper High, in her senior year at the impressionable age of 16, Imogene Maxwell began taking Bible classes from a young preacher; Ray Milligan. The day after graduation he asked her out for a date and apparently it took because at the mature age of 18 they were married.

The next few years were full attending North Texas State University and raising 2 boys; Olan and Tim. That coupled with being a pastor's wife was a full-time job.

It was 1958 when the couple felt the call of God to go to the Mission field; with two sons in tow, they headed off to East Africa. That adventure lasted from 1958 to 1967. While in Africa, she spent her time teaching English in the high school and making a home in a foreign country. During a furlough from Africa, Cathy came along. Back to Africa they all went until 1967.

In 1967, they moved to the US, more specifically back to Slidell, Texas. It was in Slidell that Imogene began teaching at the little country school.

1974 was an exceptionally hard year for her. Ray passed away unexpectedly and she was left alone on the farm with 2 kids; Olan had headed off to college. By this time, she had obtained her Master’s Degree from East Texas State and had begun working in Montague County. It wasn't long until she was to become the Director of Montague County Special Services.

In 1977, Imogene and Dr. Virtus Gideon married and in 1980 they moved to Mansfield where she began as the Director of Special Services from which she retired in 1995. Unfortunately, tragedy struck again with the death of Dr. G in 1988.

As the Director of Special Services in Mansfield, Imogene continued to provide an environment characteristic of learning. She initiated the "gifted program" and was a pioneer in designing and implementing the "Inclusion Program". Gideon Elementary School, here in Mansfield, is named in her honor.

She did not sit idle in retirement. She established a relationship with Morrison Academy and would provide education consulting and testing each year when she packed her bags and traveled to Taiwan. Imogene has supported and traveled to missions around the world. She was also a facilitator for the Alternative Teacher Certification Program.

Imogene was also involved in the community by volunteering in Special Olympics, providing meals to those in need, as a founding member of the Bible Study at Watercrest, or just being a friend when you need one.

Beyond all of that, Imogene Gideon was a person of unwavering faith and conviction. Through tragedy and triumph, she has never faltered in her faith and has never failed to share her convictions. She was an active participant in this church.

Imogene’s legacy and memory will live on through her children Olan Milligan, Tim Milligan and his wife Carla and Cathy McGillivray and her husband Terry; grandchildren Matthew Milligan an his wife Yvonne, Sarah Cross and her husband John, Chris Harris, Lauren Fitzpatrick and her husband Justin, Zach Harris and his wife Amy and Chris Mulkey; great-grandchildren Jill Milligan, Madison Cross, Emma Cross, Jackson Milligan, Ember Fitzpatrick and many other family and friends whose lives she had touched.