Milt Edward “Butch” McQueen was born on August 13, 1956 at Fort Chaffee Military Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas to the late James C. and Abyssina McQueen. God called Butch home to his eternal rest in glory on February 5, 2024.  He and his friend of 21 years gave their life to Christ on December 11, 2005 after hearing a sermon titled “Miracles of Christmas.”  The songs playing in his video tribute today they often listened to because it gave them assurance of the faith they have in Jesus.

In 2023 Milt was asked to join the Cogswell Hall Board as a resident representative and to speak to the Board’s medical, clinical, and business members to introduce himself via a biography of his life.  This is what he wrote and spoke to the Board. It is fitting to tell the story of his life today. This is what he wrote.

Hello, my name is Milt McQueen. I hope everyone is having a great day.

I was born in Arkansas at Fort Chaffee Military base. I have 8 siblings. I am number five. As a military family we lived in several states in America and also in Europe.

I attended school in America and Germany and was a good student.  As a child I was a cub scout in Germany. When we were not traveling my mother took us on a lot of picnics. As a teenager I enjoyed skating and caring for our pet chihuahua and German Shepherd dogs. I had a paper route. I worked with my father in his service stations, his towing company, and charter bus business, after he retired from the military.  I completed the Standard Oil company service technicians’ school to learn automobile repair. My grandparents had a farm in Mississippi. My siblings and I would spend a whole month with them in the summer. I fished and hunted with my grandfather. I helped him plow the fields. We would feed the livestock. We sold watermelons in town and throughout the rural communities. I had a lot of fun with our grandparents and visiting with my cousins who lived down the road.

Now I want to talk about Cogswell Hall. First, I am grateful to live here. So are most of the residents. We enjoy the activities here, and the outings. Everyone here tries to help one another. The residents were very friendly from the day I made Cogswell Hall my home.  Cogswell Hall staff tell you about the help that’s available for anyone who needs it and recommends to take advantage of it. Cogswell always says, it’s a good place to grow.

Milt leaves to mourn his daughter Kiana Nicole Parish, granddaughter Kiairah, and grandson Marquise. Siblings Willie, Gwendolyn, Emmanuel (Ashleigh), Abigail, Walter, Everett, Karen, Gail, Gary; siblings preceding him in death James Jr., and Norma Jewel Beavers. He also leaves to mourn his beloved friend of 21 years Doreen Weir and her family.  Many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews. Aunts, uncles, cousins. His beloved Cogswell Hall community residents. Friends he made in whatever he was involved doing.  All of us loved him deeply, and thus will be the depth of our mourning his passing.  We love and miss you “Butch”, Butchy”, “Slick”, dad, brother, nephew, cousin, friend. You had no enemies. Your light was bright on earth and was made even brighter when you entered glory!