Iris Miller

Iris Marie Miller went to be with her Lord and Savior in the morning hours of June 12, 2010 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She had suffered from complications of lung disease, pneumonia, and other related physical problems for many months. Iris was born in west Texas on October 24, 1937. She lived most of her early life in Lubbock, Texas with her parents, James Edwin and Annie Mae Weightman. her father was originally a Baptist Preacher. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Steve Weightman of Fort Worth, Texas, and sister Frances, also of Texas. Iris was originally married to Peter Strange and in their 25 years of marriage had 3 daughters: Cindy, Donna, and Kim. In 1982 she married Val R. Miller, an attorney with the Crowe-Dunlevy Law Firm in Oklahoma City. They were married 28 years as of her date of death. Iris is also survived by her children: Cindy, and husband, Mark Combs, and grandchildren, Susan and Sam of Long Island, NY; Donna, and husband, Charles Kosted, and grandchildren, Katelyn and Cole of Austin, TX; and Kim, and husband, Josh Bellieu, and granchildren, Faith, Noah, and Eden of Oklahoma City, OK; and step-grandchild, Micah of Rockwall, TX. Iris is also survived by step-children Trent Miller and family of Pratt-ville, AL; Brad Miller and family of Midland, TX; and Susan Miller of Oklahoma City.In addition to rearing a family, Iris was intent on educating herself. She ultimately graduated with a Master's degree in Special Education from Central State University and became a teacher, working with students with learning disabilities in the Western Heights School District. She excelled in what she did and taught for 15 years. Iris was a woman of many talents, and gardening was one of them. Thereafter, she went to the OSU Master Gardener's School, and succeeded in finishing the course that she loved. It was clear that she took great pride in her own yard, landscaping and designing a beautiful garden. She also developed other projects as her physical activities declined: she made cherished quilts for all the women in the family. When she was confined to her home, she created her own pajamas; she called them BMJ's: Big Mama's Jamas. She enjoyed being with her friends and particularly those in The Birthday Group that came monthly to her home. She also loved her Koinonia Sunday School Class. Iris was a joy to be with, and brought pleasure to others. Iris was thankful to those who looked after her and came to visit in her final days: people from the church, her close neighborhood friends, and those from hospice. She was especially thankful for the kindness of her caregivers, Cindy White, Merlynn Nelson, and Sandy Badger.A memorial service will be conducted by Dr. Randall Faulkner, her Pastor, on June 21, 2010, at 10 a.m., at Metropolitan Baptist Church, 7201 West Britton Road, Oklahoma City, where she worshiped for over 20 years. In lieu of flowers, she would suggest a gift to the church's Benevolence Fund.