It is with great sadness we share the loss of our mother, Cynthia "Cindy" Garnette (Shimon) Milks. She entered eternal life at the age of 67 on January 3, 2022.

Cindy was born on July 21, 1954 to Nelson and Ruth (Larson) Shimon Jr. in Chicago, Illinois. She was the oldest sister to her four siblings - Wendy Goldby, Jamie Shimon, Lindy Derrico, and Nelson Shimon III. She grew up in Bellwood, Illinois and graduated with the Class of 1972 from Proviso West High School. During her teenage years and early twenties, she was surrounded by many friends who adored her fun-loving and vibrant personality. She met her lifelong friends during those younger years - Jan Cerniglia and Laurie Sokolinski. She gave birth to four beautiful children later in life - Nikki, Kelly, Billy, and Krissy. They were her pride and joy, and she revolved her life around them.

Cindy eventually went on to obtain a vocational degree as a Nail Technician from Martin School of Hair Design in Manitowoc, WI. Her meticulously manicured nails made her feel beautiful, and she wanted to help others feel beautiful as well. She worked as a Nail Technician at both Lords N' Ladies in Manitowoc, WI and GJ's in Two Rivers, WI. She eventually moved her work to the family home and her clients followed. She would spend hours with her clients who she also considered friends – not only because she was a perfectionist, but because she truly enjoyed spending quality time with others. Those simple nail appointments would sometimes turn into a whole day event. Coffee was definitely involved! Many of her clients say that their most meaningful conversations occurred at her nail salon station.

Cindy took pride in her appearance and loved to dress her best. She looked beautiful in any outfit she wore. She will always be remembered for her high heel shoes, which she referred to as her "trademark." There was no one that could pull off high heel shoes (even if paired with sweatpants) like she could. While she was beautiful on the outside, she had an even more beautiful soul on the inside. If you cried, she cried with you. If you laughed, she laughed with you. If you were a friend of the family, you were a friend of hers. Her love knew no boundaries.

The way she loved and supported her children was an inspiration to those who knew her. We will always remember her for proudly showing her school spirit at every school function or sporting event. She was the one person you could call, any time, day or night, and she would always answer. She had a comforting way of saying, "I love you."  Her smile was pure, her hugs were warm, and her laugh was contagious. She had the best sense of humor - we loved the way she could laugh at herself. She loved to dance. Whether it was in the living room, kitchen, or on the dance floor at a wedding, she felt happy when she was dancing. She was a lover of the sun, just like her father. She could be found outside with baby oil and her lawn chair on sunny summer days. She enjoyed to watch the sunrise during her early morning walks along Lake Michigan. She loved to share those beautiful moments with friends and family. She was the most compassionate, selfless, welcoming person we have ever known.

She valued family more than life itself; she was always so excited to attend large family gatherings for the holidays. She never attended a family gathering without her camera in hand – the hundreds of pictures and videos she had is proof. Not only did she have a passion for taking pictures, but she loved to display them as well. Anyone who has been to her home knows that she was surrounded with photos of her loving family.

Cindy adored her six grandpuppies, Remi, Bailey, Sadie, Leo, Rex, and Oreo, and she spoiled them with many hugs, kisses, and treats. Her grandpuppies made her even more excited to be a grandma someday. While she never held the title of grandma during her time on Earth, we know she would have cherished the grandma role just as much, if not more, than her role as a mom.

We are at peace knowing she is now reunited with her mom and dad, Nelson and Ruth Shimon Jr., who she missed tremendously every single day. Cindy is survived by her four children, Nikki (Stephen) Scheffel, Kelly Milks, Billy Milks, and Krissy (Preston) Clark; four siblings, Wendy Goldby, Jamie Shimon, Lindy Derrico, and Nelson (Fran) Shimon III; and many nieces and nephews who she loved very much. A private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Illinois with Cindy's closest family and friends.

As Cindy described herself on her Facebook profile, "Mother of four adult successful children of whom I am very proud of!"

"I can't promise that I'll be here for the rest of your life, but I can promise that I'll love you for the rest of mine."