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Boonville —
EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated what positions Dearing McMillin Jr. served as when he returned to the Air Force and when he moved to Key West.
Retired Master Sgt. Dearing McMillin Jr. once saved lives. If soldiers were trapped in a plane underwater or downed pilots were located in remote settings accessible only by water, he was asked to use his skills as a scuba diver to reach them.
Now a Boonville resident, he uses his skills as an artist to produce stained glass pieces such as windows, novelties, and light-catchers with the goal of providing people an enjoyment of art.
McMillin was born in Kansas, spent his childhood in Southern California and graduated high school in Fayette in 1966. His father Dearing McMillin Sr., worked for Lockheed so the family moved around quite often. After graduating from Fayette High School, he enlisted in the Air Force where he served four years. He entered college thereafter and graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Wildlife Management.
McMillin then returned to the Air Force where he served as an *independent duty medical technician until his retirement in 1997. "I should have paid the military for giving me this job," McMillin said.
McMillin recalls time served in the military as an enjoyable time. "One of my assignments was in Truk Lagoon. There were 62 warships that sunk in the lagoon during World War II. On my days off, I got to go dive those ruins. My days off were very fun, " McMillin said about his tour in the southwest Pacific.
He also did three tours in Saudi Arabia and Desert Storm. He said that he took pleasure in learning about the local tribes' cultures.
Once retired, he moved to Key West and continued as a *rescue diver and dive-master.
In 2007, he moved back to the area to look after his mother, Marcila McMillin. His father died six years ago and his mother lives in Boonville. His father was originally from New Franklin and his mother from Sedalia.
He met his wife at the YMCA. Lois McMillin is the primary owner of Moon's Antiques. It was the first location McMillin could display his stained glass goods. "He and I made the nativity scenes together," Lois said of the glass displays currently in the store.
He developed an interest in stained glass after taking a class in college and worked with the craft as a hobby since then. "Most of the interest in my products was a result of friends seeing them and wanting to have me make something for them, " McMillin said.
EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated what positions Dearing McMillin Jr. served as when he returned to the Air Force and when he moved to Key West.
Retired Master Sgt. Dearing McMillin Jr. once saved lives. If soldiers were trapped in a plane underwater or downed pilots were located in remote settings accessible only by water, he was asked to use his skills as a scuba diver to reach them.
Now a Boonville resident, he uses his skills as an artist to produce stained glass pieces such as windows, novelties, and light-catchers with the goal of providing people an enjoyment of art.
McMillin was born in Kansas, spent his childhood in Southern California and graduated high school in Fayette in 1966. His father Dearing McMillin Sr., worked for Lockheed so the family moved around quite often. After graduating from Fayette High School, he enlisted in the Air Force where he served four years. He entered college thereafter and graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Wildlife Management.
McMillin then returned to the Air Force where he served as an *independent duty medical technician until his retirement in 1997. "I should have paid the military for giving me this job," McMillin said.
McMillin recalls time served in the military as an enjoyable time. "One of my assignments was in Truk Lagoon. There were 62 warships that sunk in the lagoon during World War II. On my days off, I got to go dive those ruins. My days off were very fun, " McMillin said about his tour in the southwest Pacific.
He also did three tours in Saudi Arabia and Desert Storm. He said that he took pleasure in learning about the local tribes' cultures.
Once retired, he moved to Key West and continued as a *rescue diver and dive-master.
In 2007, he moved back to the area to look after his mother, Marcila McMillin. His father died six years ago and his mother lives in Boonville. His father was originally from New Franklin and his mother from Sedalia.
He met his wife at the YMCA. Lois McMillin is the primary owner of Moon's Antiques. It was the first location McMillin could display his stained glass goods. "He and I made the nativity scenes together," Lois said of the glass displays currently in the store.
He developed an interest in stained glass after taking a class in college and worked with the craft as a hobby since then. "Most of the interest in my products was a result of friends seeing them and wanting to have me make something for them, " McMillin said.
He now has a workshop above the store where he makes his stained glass products.
As for his wife, she had an interest in making stained glass artwork and with teaching her the craft, a relationship budded among the pieces of glass and copper foil. A year and half later, the two were married. "She was originally from Sedalia and lived near my grandmother. At some point we probably attended school together," McMillin said.
McMillin said that the supplement to his income is always nice, but the recent economy has seen decreased sales of his products. He said people are not able to afford luxury items. "I try to keep the prices down on my pieces because I want people to be able to enjoy the art. I do see it as an art form. I think art makes people feel good."
