Carol Elaine Mason McMillen

Carol Elaine McMillen,

77, of Morgantown, WV has embarked on her final adventure on May 9 at her home after a brief illness. The daughter of the late Thomas & Dorothy (Forman) Mason of Bruceton Mills, WV, Elaine was born on August 5. 1948 in Uniontown, PA.

Elaine grew up on Mountain Aire Dairy Farm a family-owned business in Preston County, WV. Where she enjoyed creating mischief and sharing adventures with her three younger siblings, the late Richard (Louie) Mason and sisters Ruth Young and Becky Mason (Terry). Elaine was a graduate of Bruceton High School- Class of ‘66. Following graduation, she attended Morgantown Beauty College, where she showed an innate gift for fashion and design and made many lifelong friends. During those years she bought her first car - a Ford Torino – and loved to tell stories about drag racing down High Street in Morgantown.

In 1974, Elaine went to work for Mylan Pharmaceuticals, starting out in the penicillin production department. Admired for her work ethic and initiative, she was entrusted with many roles and increased responsibility in the company for more than 42 years. Her work as a Union representative was a career highlight and earned the admiration of her peers for her leadership and compassion for fellow employees. Elaine was the Manager of Shipping and Receiving by the time she retired in 2017. Elaine made many close friends during her years at Mylan and cherished her time there. Elaine was the proud Mother of three children, Susan Ditmore-Funk (Jeremiah), Jennifer McMillen-Wilson and Matthew McMillen (Mikie), living first in Hazelton before moving to Morgantown. She taught them to be strong, to value hard work, and to always carry a deep love for adventure, travel, nature, and buckwheat cakes. Through the years, she opened her heart and home to every extra child her own children brought home. One of her greatest joys in life happened in July 1989, when she became a grandmother for the first time, to Craig Wilson. This blessing would enrich her life four more times with the arrivals of Sierra McMillen, Nevada Wilson, Jacob McMillen and Noah McMillen. Her only great grandchild, Braylen Knotts, completed the family’s joy in 2014.

Elaine is lovingly remembered by her children for always encouraging them to follow their heart, to take risks, and for going above and beyond to create lifetime memories. There were trips to the ocean, to Disney World to meet the mouse, to The Smokey Mountains for zip lining, and to New York City to see the Phantom of the Opera. As Saint Augustine said, “The world is a book and those who do not travel only read one page”.  And Elaine definitely did not just read one page. She read the whole book. Elaine loved to travel. She traveled frequently during her career at Mylan - even stowing away with friends on some work trips. During her lifetime, she traveled to four countries, two US territories, and 37 out of the 50 states. Some adventurers she took alone. While others, she took with family and friends. Her favorite places were England and Nova Scotia. Her family fondly agrees that Elaine was always eager to see what was around the next corner.

But home was also deeply important. Elaine filled the rooms with photographs of all the places she had been. She enjoyed crafting items that she had seen, reading a good book, and planting a garden. Her family relied on her talents to help decorate for whatever party they were planning. And she loved going to yard sales and thrift stores with her chosen sister Patty Mason.

Elaine had a special place in her heart for her nieces and nephews. Always ready to listen when they needed someone to talk to, encouraging them when needed a little push, and even helping them with their own adventure - like beautifully decorating a pavilion minutes before the wedding!

She will be dearly missed by Nieces - Michelle Mason Hall (daughter Liz), Aimee Cummings, Amanda Young Nephews - Dave Mason (sons Mac and Gavin), Brian Young, Adam White, and Brandon Zilkanich.

Elaine is also survived by her childhood friend and loving aunt, Shirley Forman Hiser (son Larry and daughter Karen). As well as several aunts, uncles and cousins. Art and Delora Forman (Ronna & Eugene), Pat Forman (and sons Mark and Scott, and daughters Ruth and Jane), Katherine Forman (daughter Kathie), Stella Forman (Charlie), George and Bill Mason, and Kim Havenner.

In addition to her parents and brother, she is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Ervin and Agnes Forman, Uncles Carl, Troy, Ray Forman, paternal grandparents Kermit and Rebecca Mason, and her Aunt Rebecca Mason Perry.

A special thank you to Michelle and Amanda for all the help they provided during her illness. The family would also like to thank WVU Home Health and Hospice for all the care they took during this extremely difficult time.

A memorial service for Carol will be Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Carl R. Spear Funeral Home in Brandonville-Bruceton Mills, WV.

Condolences may be sent to the family at spearfuneralhome.net.