Alma Miller (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Alma Fern Miller, daughter of Edward Josiah and Mary Estella Constant Gray, was born October 4, 1922, in Decatur, Illinois. She departed this life Thursday, October 16, 2014, in her home, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of ninety-two years, and twelve days.
On December 6, 1940, she was united in marriage to Harry Howard “Shorty” Miller, and to this union one daughter and four sons were born.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Shorty, on September 17, 2006; a daughter, Fern Miller Stark; a son, Richard Miller; three brothers, Albert, Carl, and Earl Gray; and five sisters, Dorothy Ostrander, May Colebeck, Armenia Gray, Esther Mueller, and Vivian Gadberry.
Alma is survived by three sons, Allyn Miller, and his wife, Voncille, Larry Miller, and Joyce Cannon, and Terry Miller, and his wife, Carmen, all of Lebanon, Missouri; eleven grandchildren; twenty-eight great-grandchildren; nine great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Anna Lee Karloski, and her husband, Walter, of Decatur, Illinois, and Vonna Ruth Tebussek, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
She was born and raised in Decatur, Illinois. After she and Shorty were married, they made their home in Illinois while Shorty served in the United States Navy. In 1951, the family moved to Lebanon, Missouri, and began working in the sanitation business. In the late 1960’s, Shorty and Alma became the sole owners of Miller Sanitation Company, which they operated until selling the business to Waste Management of the Ozarks in the early 1990’s. Throughout the years, Alma was a devoted homemaker to her husband and family and also helped in the family business. Earlier in her life, she had worked at Munger Moss Restaurant and at Shepherd Hills, Sands and Cloverleaf Motels.
Alma had professed her faith in Christ and was a longtime, active member of Hillcrest Baptist Church in Lebanon.
In her spare time she enjoyed playing cards with her caregivers and family. She also liked listening to Shorty’s fiddle music. She loved her family dearly and especially enjoyed spending time with all of her grandchildren.
Alma was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and know that her family and friends will cherish the wonderful memories she create for them during her ninety-two years.
In her later years, Alma was cared for by six dedicated caregivers: Tami Sisco, Judy Rogers, Miranda Herrill, Amanda Rogers-Meyers, Donna Garcia, Mandy Youngman, and Kim Leighton. The Miller family wishes to thank these ladies for their kind and caring ways. Memorial donations to the Gideon Bible Ministry may be left at the funeral home.
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