The Clerk of the Maine House Hon. Millicent M. MacFarland of Augusta passed away on Saturday surrounded by friends and family after a long courageous battle with cancer. She was 58.
"I'm deeply saddened by the passing of the Hon. Millie MacFarland," said House Speaker Mark Eves. "Millie's service to the people of Maine and to the Maine House for the past 32 years, including a decade as Clerk of the House, has been marked by the highest standard of professionalism and integrity. Under Democratic and Republican administrations, she served faithfully. Her commitment was always to the people of Maine. In both my tenure as the Speaker and as a member of the Legislature, Millie served as an adviser, a trusted friend, and a teacher to me and to the thousands of legislators that came through the House Chamber under her watch. Her expertise and commitment to public service guided us all. As Clerk, she has been the unsung and quiet steady hand shepherding many of the laws that have shaped our state. We will all miss her at the rostrum, in the House Chamber, and the halls of our great Capitol building."
MacFarland served the Maine House of Representatives in various capacities for over 30 years, including more than a decade as Clerk of the House, a position she held from 2012-2014 under Speaker Eves, and from December 2000 to December 2010 under prior Speakers.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Millie's family and loved ones during this difficult time," said Congressman Mike Michaud. "I have many fond memories of working with Millie while serving in the Maine Legislature and I'm fortunate for her friendship throughout the years. She was a woman of the highest integrity who cared deeply for her family, her work and the people of Maine. She will be deeply missed."
MacFarland was a national expert on parliamentary procedure, holding the office of President of the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries. In 1995, she became the first editor of the Journal of the American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries. She was a member of the Mason's Manual Commission, which is a 20-member commission entrusted with the copyright of the premier guide on legislative procedure used by legislatures in the United States.
MacFarland is survived by her son Nick MacFarland of Augusta and her fiance the Hon. Patrick O'Donnell of Nebraska.