Obituary of Betty J. Miller

Betty J. Miller August 21, 1924 – March 17, 2023 Sunset on the evening star, One clear call for me, May there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea. ILION - I have always liked this poem by Tennyson. If you are reading it today, I have crossed that bar, and, hopefully, I have reached a safe harbor. No one knows my life better than me, so let me start at the beginning. I was born in Spencer, Iowa, on August 21, 1924. My parents were Roy and Marie Donaldson Morris. After me, there was a brother, Richard, and a sister, Phyllis. My mother was one of eight children, and my father was one of thirteen, so there were always lots of aunts and uncles and cousins by the dozens. It was a happy life until World War ll. I graduated from high school in1941 and later attended a business college in Omaha, Nebraska. I was employed by a local insurance company there. Being war time and knowing that we were all very patriotic ladies, my friends and I frequently attended the dances for the servicemen stationed at the local YMCA. It was at one of those dances that a very handsome young Marine, Paul Miller, asked me to dance. Little did I know he would someday become my husband. Paul was sent to the Pacific War Zone, served on Iwo Jima and saw the American flag being raised at the end of that terrible battle. He went on to be among the first Marines to serve in occupied Japan. Paul returned safely, and we were married in November of 1946 beginning our married life together. We had four children, and Paul was a great husband, a loving father, and a doting grandfather. We were able to take many trips with our children and enjoyed many summers at Lake Pleasant, near Speculator, NY. Life was good through all those years until June of 1994, when Paul passed away. He was so greatly missed by all of us. Still, time and tide waits for no man, and life goes on. Every life has its good times and bad times, but we had far more good times than bad! A huge thank you to our children and their families who have always been so kind to me through the years. You are all such a blessing and have given me so much to be thankful for. ….And to the Reynolds/Brewer family—We spent so many, many Thanksgivings together highlighted by all of those backyard football games!!! Who can forget those delightful and delicious desserts on Thanksgiving night!?! What great memories!! ….And then, to all of my friends with whom I spent so many good times including The Ilion Historical Club ladies, the Ilion Hospital Guild, Ilion Garden Club, the Tuesday lunch girls, the Bridge club and Skip Bo girls, the Mah-Jong gals, Red Hat girls, my election buddies, the Friends of the Library, and to those who put up with me on the golf course and to anyone else who happened to be part of my life. I thank you!! Also, let me offer a big thank you to all those who answered my often frantic phone calls to save me from one disaster or another. I have truly enjoyed my life, and I believe all of our lives are destined to be exactly as we live them. I am so thankful that mine was such a good one! Survivors include our sons and their wives, Timothy and his wife, Beverly, Thomas and his wife, Ellen; Dennis and his wife, Holly, and our daughter, JoAnne and her husband, Frank. Surviving grandchildren include Ryan and Darren Miller, and their wives, Melissa and Johanna, respectively; Elizabeth and Christina Kucerak; Phoebe and Sophie Miller; and Nicholas and Michael Miller. Surviving great grandchildren are Brady and Colin Miller. To all of my surviving nieces and nephews and cousins and their familes, thanks, too, for adding so much joy and love to my life! My brother, Richard and his wife, Shirley, as well as my sister, Phyllis and her husband, Wally, have all gone on before me. Special thanks to Nan Reynolds Grindle who came to see me at Alpine Nursing Home every Tuesday and Friday. Your many, many kindnesses, as well as your sense of humor, made these past months more bearable. Love you, Nan! To Tudy Brooks, Rita Entwistle and Claude Boyle, thanks for all of the lunches and laughs we shared through the years! To Joanne Murphy, thanks for all of your many kindnesses over the past couple of years before I went to live at Alpine. You were wonderful! Lastly, let me express my deepest thanks to Dick Griffith for your time, your kindness, and all of your handyman skills! There was nothing you couldn’t fix, Dick! You have always held a very special place in my heart! Thanks for visiting me every weekend. It meant so much! There will be no calling hours or funeral at this time. Applegate funeral home will be in charge of any future arrangements. If you wish to make a donation in my memory, please consider the Ilion Library or the Ilion Ambulance. Always remember, a hug is a circle of love. Hug Often!!