Elizabeth Ann Miller

Elizabeth Ann Miller
1923 – 2017

“If you stand very still in the turmoil of life and wait for the voice from within—you’ll be led down the quiet ways of wisdom and peace in a mad world of chaos and din.” Patience Strong

Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Miller has died at home with her beloved daughters and esteemed caregivers. Her stock was Alsatian and Irish. She was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota to William Patrick Murphy and Melanie Weygand in 1923 and grew up on a Depression-era farm 2 hours north, in Arlington. At 17-years of age, she hitchhiked to California and got a job as “Rosie the Riveter”, building the B-17 for the North American Aviation Company in Los Angeles. On December 1, 1943, she met Marine LCpl Marshall Middleton Miller, from Goldthwaite, Texas who was scheduled to ship out for the Pacific Theater the first of the year. With a burning, spontaneous love, at 20 and 22 years of age, they married on December 25th. No time for a honeymoon, Betty cried as he sailed out of port and did not see him again until he returned from the Battle of Saipan terribly wounded and partially paralyzed. Other women might have left him; this injured Marine, but she did not and so began long years of operations, profound pain, and physical rehabilitation. He never totally recovered from his wounds, but through it all, she remained by his side for 57 years: “I will never leave you my darling, come what may.”

In the 1950’s she moved to College Station with Marshall and their three children. Marshall worked for the Poultry Science Department at Texas A&M and Betty dedicated herself to raising her family and being a loyal friend to many in the A&M community. She could spell any word in the dictionary, loved ice water and fudge, and used to play golf in the heat of summer. She could sing beautifully, was a skilled seamstress and an excellent cook. Her red beans and cornbread were renowned in the neighborhood.

We are her three children and have always been in awe of her and now that she is gone, we weep. She was the morning after the storm, the soft voice, the enduring patience, the heart of laughter, and the eternal love. Her many friends knew that Betty could always be counted upon. At the end, she was as sharp as they come and deep in her eyes there burned a fierce and tender story.

You probably did not know her, yet we share her death with you. Why? Because all of us will lose or have lost a mother, and we are joined together in these moments as we recall the universality of the women who gave us life: our mothers.
In her name, we send hope beyond grief to all of you.

She was predeceased by her parents; siblings Margaret, Eva, Monica, Audrey, William; husband Marshall Miller; sister-in-law Mary Ann and niece Andrea.

Betty Miller is survived by daughters Melanie Fuller (David), Mary Kraus (Bob), and son Duke Miller (Teresa); grandchildren Elizabeth Ennis (Brad), David Fuller (Alison), Marshall Miller, Charley Zipp, Robert Zipp, Kate Henderson (Jeremy), Mercy Kraus (Ryan Simons); great grandchildren Emily and Ethan Ennis, Anna and Claire Fuller, Caleb, Lydia and Caroline Henderson; brother Thomas Murphy, sister Virginia Rasmussen, and brother-in-law Sam Smith and numerous nieces and nephews.

Special thanks to Hospice Brazos Valley for their loving kindness to our mother and family this last month.

Condolences

  1. Melanie, Mary, and Duke,

    Sorry for the loss of your Mom. She was a beautiful lady who was always very patient too all us neighborhood kids. I remember it like yesterday. Where did all the days go. Best wishes to you all.

  2. Dear Duke & family, Our deepest sympathy, love and prayers that God’s Peace & Love will surround you, be with you and help you through this sad time, Love & prayers, Lillian & Jerry Beasley

  3. To the children of
    Betty and Marshall Miller

    My husband was Bill Cawley who worked in the Poultry Science Department with your Dad. He and your Dad made many trips together and my husband always had a story to tell after the trips. Bill was very, very fond of Marshall and really loved working with him.

    As you read this you must realize that I could not have writen about your Mother without first writing about your Dad.

    Betty and I and Mary Lee Bradley were in a group of Poultry Science Retirees who met once a month for lunch.
    I knew your Mom mostly from the Poultry Science Department gatherings.

    She and Mary Lee always came together. I loved hearing her talk. She had such a distinctive voice. And she was very upfront with her opinions. Many times expressing what some of us were thinking.

    It was very apparent that she loved Marshall and her children and grandchildren.

    I was so surprised and sad when she told us at lunch one day that it was the last time she would be eatting with us.
    There were just four of us there that day, Mary Lee, Ruth Krueger, Mary Ann Fanguy and me. And we all told her would would really miss her.
    And we did!

    In my mind I thought I would keep up with her through Mary Lee.

    Your Mom was a beautiful person. Always upfront about her feelings.

    The obituary you all wrote was beautiful. I have read it more than once and each time I read it I can feel your love and pride.

    Sincerely,
    Mrs. Bill (Joyce) Cawley

    (Written on Sept. 3, 2017)

[custom_comments]
×
Accessibility Tools
hide
construction update map

Due to the construction on S College Ave our facility is only accessible via Dellwood St. Please refer to this map for reference. Dellwood St can be accessed via Cavitt Ave and Texas Ave.

For more information, please visit the Bryan, TX website.