Blair “Mack” McMillan

Blair “Mack” Arlis McMillan (81) was born November 10, 1941, in Aberdeen, Idaho.   He was the 3rd child and 2nd son of Paul and Ada LaVon Snow McMillan.  He was known as “Masterpiece” to his parents.  They loved and were proud of their son.

In his childhood, he loved all animals, especially dogs and horses.  His first horse was named Twinkle because of the star in the middle of his forehead.  He loved the Bull Tokyo.  He gained a keen sense of respect for these tough guys.

He and his sister Marva “Dee” would ride their horses from morning until night.   They rode bareback.  They just held onto the horse’s mane and jumped on. 

Blair loved people and life. 

He constantly helped and served his Grandma Snow, Uncle Keith and his Aunts Erma and Lillian.

He stayed busy in high school.  He played basketball and football.  He would drag race cars.  He would buy, fix, clean up cars and then sell them. He was once told that he either had to stop selling cars or get a dealer’s license.  He graduated from AFHS in 1960.

Blair and his cousin Don Diehl were together through all their years.  Blair was a bronc rider, bull rider, and rodeo clown.   He even had a goat he would take when he went clowning.  Bull riding was his favorite.  He won many championships and buckles.

He was an avid outdoorsman.  He loved to hunt and fish.  He even did a little trapping.

He was a sharp dresser and a neat nick.  He loved dressing in starched Levi’s, crisp white shirts, Stetson cowboy hats and boots.

He met and married the love of his life, Doris Smith, on June 8, 1972.  They had one son, Shawn.  They have been married 52 years.  Doris took great care of Blair all through his life.  She made sure he kept up on his sharp dressing, had amazing meals and served him faithfully.

Blair owned/operated several businesses.  He owned a bar, owned a tool rental company, was a construction foreman, high rigger, and owned and operated his own trucking company BAMCO.  He was a long-haul truck driver for many years. 

He worked in Idaho, California, in Saudi Arabia (building high rises and cement houses) and crisscrossed this nation innumerable times.  He wrote a book for truckers including trucker routes.  This was way before the internet. 

He liked playing cards, cooking, and baking.  He made and baked incredible chocolate pies. 

He was a meticulous welder.  He designed and welded winding staircases.  He helped with the welding and construction of the American Falls Dam. He and his brother Bill even welded their own kayaks. 

One day they went kayaking on the Snake River.  Blair went over some falls, down by Raft River and disappeared.  Bill got to shore and went to get Search and Rescue because he couldn’t see him.  Blair had found a rock and climbed up on it to try to keep his gun dry.  He would jump back in to keep warm since it was so cold outside.  However, he did NOT let his rifle get wet!

Blair was personable.  He was witty, had great one-liners and could tell jokes that made you laugh out loud.  He had many life-long AF buddies. Among them are Bob Wetzel, Bill Huber, Larry Hunter, Boyd Larsen, Rick Carner, Stan Benson, and Bob Roper.  He loved to come back home and drive all over AF and the surrounding valleys with Bob and Bill.

Blair also had a sensitive side.  He loved his family.  He respected and revered his wife, Doris.  He was proud that his son would come to help him in his last years of life.  He spoke often with his sister, Sandra.  They loved getting together for Thanksgivings, Spring Breaks, birthdays, Memorial Days, dinners out and feasts at Doris’s dining table. 

Blair passed away at home on April 22nd.  His loving wife, Doris and his supportive son, Shawn were by his side.  Fittingly, Mama Bear and Papa Bear were together to the end. 

He was preceded in death by his dad, mom, his older brother William “Bill”, and his younger sister Marva “Dee”, his mother-in-law, Stella Smith, father-in-law, Wallace Smith, and a nephew Rocky Porter.

He is survived by his wife, Doris, his son, Shawn, his sister Sandra McMillan Porter, his nieces (Cherri Oskins, Rasonda Crandall) and several grand nephews and one grand-niece.

A visitation will be from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. on Friday April 26, 2024, at Davis-Rose Mortuary in American Falls.  The graveside service will begin at 1:00 p.m.  on Saturday April 27, at the Falls View Cemetery.  To order flowers, or to share condolences, memories, and photos, please visit DavisRoseMortuary.com.