Merle Miller
Merle Miller, 91, died peacefully January 3, 2021. The wife of the late Fred Miller.
Merle grew up with her parents in a firehouse in Farmington CT, where her Dad was fire chief. The love of firetrucks remained a passion throughout her life. In school, Merle was an excellent student and played for the high school basketball team.
Merle graduated from Hartford Hospital School of Nursing having interesting perspectives of being a nursing student post WW II. She met her future husband, Fred, while on a cross country tour with a friend. He proposed by correspondence and a ring in the mail "sealed the deal". Merle and Fred married and had 3 daughters. Janice Carson of Springfield MO, Pamela Miller, who predeceased Merle as a baby, and Candace Colbert and husband Joseph Alfieri of Norwood MA. She leaves three beloved grandchildren, Savannah Carson of Columbia MO, Tate Colbert and wife Lauren of Burlington VT, and Kelsey Colbert raised in Norwood. Also dear to her were Joe's children, Joey and Christina Alfieri of Norwood MA. She also leaves her sister-in-law, Mary Pogson, nephew, Dr. William Pogson and wife Pam, niece, Mary Ellen Knop and husband Kevin. Fred's extended family meant a great deal to Merle.
Merle received her BSN from Drury College and held a variety of positions in nursing to include Crippled Children's home, Children's Diagnostic Clinic, Nursing Instructor at St John's School of Nursing and Inservice Coordinator at MediCenter.
She was an active member and sang in the choirs of both Wesley Methodist Church in Springfield MO and First Congregational Church of Norwood. Singing in the Glee Club at the Norwood Sr Center and delivering for Meals on Wheels brought joy to Merle during her 12 years in Norwood.
A wonderful pianist and artist, Merle supported the arts and was a docent at the Springfield Art Museum.
A celebration of life will be held in in the late spring. Those who wish to remember Merle in a special way, may make gifts in her memory to Wesley Methodist Church, First Congregational Church of Norwood, or Meals on Wheels of Norwood MA.
Published in News-Leader from Jan. 8 to Jan. 10, 2021.