Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 114 retiree and 13-year member Nancy Milner passed away June 6 after a 10-year battle with a rare type of blood cancer, multiple myeloma. She was 68.
Milner served as a shop steward and elected Executive Board member at the Kroger Clackamas Bakery. Last year, she testified to the BCTGM Executive Board that when she was first diagnosed, she was fighting to see her grandchildren graduate from high school. In 2019, she watched her oldest granddaughter accept her college diploma and grandson graduate from high school.
Milner credited her union healthcare with saving her life — she consistently broke records, living twice as long as the average expectancy of multiple myeloma patients.
In her final months, her pride peaked when her grandson, Casey, joined Ironworkers Shopmen’s Local 516. She died with some peace knowing that he and his family’s health care would always be secured.
She was a lifelong fighter — a “Strike Leader” — organizing and rallying for the rights of union workers to have access to healthcare and livable wages. She organized well into her retirement and during her treatments. She fought for her children and grandchildren to have experiences and opportunities to enrich their lives.
Before baking, Milner was a “Paper Maker Extraordinaire,” working at Simpson Paper Company in West Linn, where she was a 20-year member of the Association of Western Pulp & Paper Workers (AWPPW).
She enjoyed fishing, making pizza with her grandchildren, swapping stories with friends, and swimming. Last year she swam in a national competition in California as part of the master’s swim team “Oregon Reign.” She was also an avid reader, writer, and constant learner.
Milner was born July 21, 1951, in Sacramento, Calif. She is survived by her wife of over 20 years, Pam; three children; four grandchildren; one great-grandson; and dog, Lucy.
Nancy was an amazing human being and I’m so glad you have honored her with this good article and great photo. I met Nancy while I was also going through cancer treatment. She often would talk about her union and her work. She loved and supported good union work. Most of all, she loved her family—her children and grandchildren—and her wife, Pam, who advocated for her so consistently and brilliantly during her long walk with cancer. Nancy will be missed by many who love her.