1951
Father Keith
2010
Father Keith Louis Milligan
December 31, 1951 — April 13, 2010
He will be laid to rest at Rayne Protestant Cemetery in Rayne with Bishop Bruce McPherson officiating the services.
Father Keith has served as Rector for the past thirteen (13) years, since April, 1997, when he transferred from The Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Lafayette. He served the Lafayette church for two years, from March,1994 to March, 1997, as the Assistant Rector, and was also the Episcopal Chaplain to the University of Southwestern Louisiana, or USL, now known as the
University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or ULL.
Most people know that Father Milligan is half Irish; rather, half Scot-Irish to be exact. However, most people would never guess that the other half is Cajun French. Neither his name nor his accent gives away any native nationality. Father Keith’s mother’s maiden name was Trahan and her mother’s maiden name was Arceneaux. He is a direct descendant of Louis Pierre Arceneaux, who was driven out of Acadia, now known as Nova Scotia, in Canada in 1755, and was among the other Acadians who settled in 1763 near what is now Carencro on the north side of Lafayette. Louis Pierre Arceneaux named his new homeland after his Acadian home
town of “Beau Basin” or “Beautiful Basin”. Pierre Arceneaux ranged his cattle in the Vermilion basin and had one of the first five
cattle brands in the Attakapas District.
When questioned about his most significant and satisfying accomplishment during his tenure at St. Paul’s in Abbeville, Father Keith unhesitatingly replied, “That’s easy, VFCC”. Abbeville was like a bombed-out war zone -trees and power pole lines were down everywhere. Within a few months, Lura Cayton of Church World Services, was in Abbeville trying to help form an organization to help hurricane victims with long-term disaster recovery. He attended a public meeting to hear her presentation, at the end of which she asked for leaders to volunteer. Not that night, but after much prayer, he discerned God’s call to respond to his invitation to lead. So, he said, “Yes!”
This began the process which led to the formation of a not-for profit 501c(3) corporation whose purpose was to meet unmet critical human need within Vermilion Parish. “VFCC” – Vermilion (for all of Vermilion Parish, but only for Vermilion Parish), Faith (faith-based by people of Christian faith) Community (we are a community seeking to up-build community) of Care (our ministry is to care for people with critical unmet human need).
In the five year span from 2005-2009, VFCC has contributed a total of $1,155,580.00 in Vermilion Parish in cash and in-kind for direct aid for long-term disaster recovery in response to Hurricanes Rita in September, 2005 and Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in September, 2008. “That’s quite a positive impact and significant contribution for such a small organization”, he commented.
Father Keith has served all thirty years of his ministry in his home Diocese of Western Louisiana. Born in Lafayette, he grew up in Lake Charles and graduated from LaGrange Senior High School in 1969. After college at Northeast Louisiana University (1969-1973), a three year tour of active duty as an Air Defense Artillery Officer in the U.S. Army (1974-1977), and three years of seminary at The School of Theology of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee (1977-1980), Father Keith returned home.
Ordained a deacon on June 16, 1980, his first assignment was a two-mission field: St. Luke’s, Jennings, and St. Timothy’s, Eunice, for two years from 1980-1982. Following his ordination as a priest on December 19, 1980, he has also served as Rector of Grace Church, Lake Providence (1982-1986), and Assistant Rector of St. James, Alexandria (1986-1994) before returning to his native home of Lafayette and his final station of St. Paul’s in Abbeville.
“This is actually my second retirement.” Father Keith added, “I retired from the Active U.S. Army Reserve with
almost 25 years of military service”.
After ordination, he transferred to the Chaplain branch of the U.S. Army and served almost 22 years as an Army Chaplain, primarily with the 95thInfantry Division (Training). He smiled, saying, “God willing, I’ll live to age 60, when I’ll start receiving my retirement pay.” In reflecting over the past thirty years, Father Keith enthusiastically praised God, saying “God is so good! It is his ‘Amazing Grace’ that has brought me safe thus far, and I firmly believe that his ‘Amazing Grace’ will lead me home.” Although he’s only been retired less than two weeks, he was quick to say, “Life just doesn’t get any better than this; I highly recommend retirement!”
Father Milligan was fond of saying, “I have faithfully served my God and my Country these many years. I pray that the offering and labor of my life may be acceptable to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who died for me that I might live for and with him. Blessed be the name of the Lord!”
He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Meaux Milligan of Abbeville; one son, Mark Louis Milligan and his wife, Heather Feinberg of Denver, CO; one daughter, Elizabeth Fay Milligan Rummler and her husband, J.A. of Oscar; and one brother, Ted George Milligan and his wife, Dee of Moss Bluff.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lynn Louis Milligan, Jr. and the former Rita Mae Trahan.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles Street, on Thursday, April 15, 2010 from 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Friday, April 16, 2010 at Abbeville United Methodist Church, 213 N. State Street, Abbeville from noon until time of sevices.
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