Obituary

Mickey Melba Young-McMiller of Buckeye, Arizona passed away March 5, 2023, at the age of 17. She was born June 12, 2005, in St. Louis, Missouri to Willie Robert McMiller Jr. and Erica Young-Jackson. She is survived by her mother Dr. Erica Young-Jackson, father Willie Robert McMiller Jr., stepfather Anthony Kadar Jackson, maternal grandmother Yakima Young-Shields, paternal grandfather Willie McMiller Sr., and paternal grandmother Minerva McMiller. She is also survived by her brother Malcolm Alexander Young, stepsisters Aniya Jackson and Kiara Jackson, extended family, friends and her beloved service dog Appari.

Mickey grew up in Orange County, California, St. Louis, Missouri, and Buckeye, Arizona. After just three years, she graduated from Insight Academy of Arizona at the age of 16. Shortly after graduating, Mickey began her Veterinary Technician program for her associate degree. Not one to give in to her illness, Mickey also worked her senior year at the Goodwill in Buckeye, then moved on to work at the Dutch Bros in Verrado, Buckeye.

Mickey and her family enjoyed traveling together. They spent time together on family trips around the United States, Disney cruises, the Bahamas, and just traveling back and forth to California to visit friends. In her free time, Mickey loved to spend time with her friends and family swimming, ice skating, shopping, and spending quality time.

Mickey always had an interesting story to tell about the customers she helped at Dutch Bros and her amazing coworkers. Mickey also enjoyed shopping. She could often be found at Hot Topic, Bath and Body Works, or Ulta. She loved playing video games with her Uncle Robert, Sydney, brother, and friends. Mickey also enjoyed eating out at Korean, Indian, and Thai restaurants. She always made sure to spend time with her grandma and join in on their Sunday family FaceTime calls. Mostly, Mickey loved spending time with family.

Mickey was known to be strong, independent, and confident. But she was also protective, humble, spiritual, and caring. She was the glue of her family and the counselor of her friend group. She was shy but bold which she showed by her personal style. She was honest and had unending patience with others. She had an amazing ability to accept others and their culture. Her proudest accomplishments were graduating high school in three years, enrolling in the Veterinary Technician program, passing her driving test on the first try, the relationships she made and strengthened over the years, and pushing through every day to live life to the fullest.

We are proud to have watched Mickey grow and blossom into the vibrant young woman she became. She was always authentic and true to herself. To know Mickey, was to love her. Her memory will always be vibrant in our hearts, just like her.

A visitation will be held at 5pm on March 19, 2023, at Thompson Funeral Chapel (Goodyear, Arizona). A funeral service will be held from 6 to 9pm on March 19, 2023, at Thompson Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Mickey Melba Autoimmune Research Foundation (https://gofund.me/cfe1bc95).