Millicent “Missie” Freed Hawley, 79, passed away on Sunday, June 14, 2026, due to complications from cancer. 

Born in Stevens Point, WI, to Millicent “Mimi” Coombs and Robert “Byron” Freed, Missie was the fourth of five children. Her family later relocated to Madison, where they called it “home”. She attended Madison West High School and St. Olaf College before transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she earned a degree in Art History in 1969. It was also in Madison that she met and on June 21, 1969, married, her devoted husband, Robert “Bob” Hawley. In pursuit of her passions, she later studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France, and owned and operated a successful pastry business, La Petite Patisserie, in Milwaukee. 

Missie lived a bright, vibrant life defined by her love of art, music, cooking, entertaining and the people and communities she held dear. She was openly generous with her time, attention, talents and resources and was the consummate hostess – everyone was welcome in her home and at her table. “Be curious, be creative, be kind” was her lifelong motto. As a devoted patron of the arts, Missie dedicated her energies to Villa Terrace Museum and Gardens in Milwaukee, served on the board for the Lakefront Festival of Art, and was an award-winning volunteer, donor, and member of the Milwaukee Art Museum. She also loved attending the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and had wonderful adventures traveling the world. In her later years, her most cherished source of joy was the time spent with her two granddaughters. 

Missie leaves a legacy of love and will be dearly missed. She is survived by her sisters, Janet Ostercamp and Margaret New; her brother, Robert Freed; her two sons, Andrew (Amy) and Alex (Nikki); and her beloved granddaughters; Autumn and Evelyn. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and sister, Marian. 

A celebration of Missie's life will take place in late summer, with formal announcement to follow. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Museum of Wisconsin Art, the Milwaukee Public Museum, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, or a charity of your choice.