Marie Helen Miller, 95 years of age of Durham, North Carolina died on February 17, 2012 in her daughters’ home on Club Boulevard. She was born on September 25th 1916 in Blackwell, OK to Karl G. Janke and Anna Rohr Janke. The family moved to Sturgis MI and later to a farm outside Howe, IN during the Great Depression where she helped with gardening, collecting eggs from large chicken coops and making clothes for the family. She also enjoyed and developed skills in baking and cooking, home remodeling, curtain making, re-upholstering and decorating.
Marie married Edwin Frederick Jones on January 21st, 1939. Theirs was a beautiful relationship that lasted until Edwin departed this life on December 3rd, 1959. In later years she married Rollin Jay Miller who has also preceded her in death.
Marie was one of seven children. Preceeding her in death were her sisters, Florence Knapp, Emily Kirkpatrick, Henny Beckwith, Louise Ludwig and brother Karl Janke. At the time of her passing she believed that her younger brother Earl was still living in or around Three Rivers, MI.
Marie is survived by daughter Cheryl Jones Shiflett in Durham NC, daughter Kay Dianne Wierda of Lamont MI and son Ricky Lee Jones of Burr Oak, MI. In addition, Marie is survived by many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be offered 1:00pm Tuesday, February 21, 2012 from Calvary United Methodist Church, 304 E. Trinity Avenue Durham.
Flowers are acceptable or memorial contributions in Marie’s name may be made to Calvary United Methodist Church, 304 E. Trinity Avenue Durham, NC 27701.
The Miller family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service, Durham. Online memorials: www.hallwynne.com Select obituaries.
Ruth Upchurch
Thinking of you and your family, In our thoughts and prayers.
Love
Ruth Upchurch
Dave Thommarson
By Bishop Brent:
I am standing upon that foreshore, a ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean.
She is an object of beauty and strength and I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come down to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says, “there! she’s gone!”
“Gone where?” “Gone from my sight, that’s all”, she is just as large in mast and spar and hull as ever she was when she left my side; just as able to bear her load of living freight to the place of her destination.
Her diminished size is in me, not in her.
And just at that moment when someone at my side says, “there! she’s gone!” there are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, “here she comes!”
And that is dying.
Jane Pilkenton Tiedeman
Cheryl and family,
So sorry to read about the passing of your Mom. I hope the memories of her wonderful, long life will sustain you in the days to come.
Linda Sowers Fanning
Cheryl and family,
Sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. Your mom and my mother use to play cards in the Girls Euchre Group in Sturgis. My prayers go out to you and your family during this difficult time.
Rickey
The BIG Guy just got a new favorite!!!The worlds best Mom just checked in…… Heaven wins.