With Hawaiian music softly playing next to her, our sister Anne slipped away for her final journey and joined our parents in their Heavenly home on December 27th. With her sister and special niece by her side, Anne left behind the physical and mental challenges that tried to diminish who she was, to be whole again with the Lord she loved. Anne lived life to the fullest she could, was devoted to any cat that came her way, and loved family with a full heart.
Anne MacFarland Miller was born on February 25, 1958 to Lionel and Margot (Burridge) Miller, their third child in what would become a family of four children. From the beginning, Anne’s affinity toward cats and animals was present, as well as her soft heart always wanting to help someone in need. She was a Brownie, active in Sunday School, and loved time in St. Helens with our Grandpa and Grandma Miller. She loved stuffed animals, and sometimes was hard to locate under the collection of her favorite stuffies on her bed!
Anne loved travel and adventure. Many times she joined our Dad on camping and backpacking trips that were sponsored through the Parkrose School District in the
1970’s, as well as loving all the family vacations. Following graduation from Parkrose High School in 1977, Anne traveled to England to stay with family friends. The highlight of the trip was a handshake from Queen Elizabeth II, a moment she forever treasured. A brief marriage took her to southern California where she could visit Disneyland whenever she wanted while amassing a large collection of Mickey and Minnie Mouse memorabilia. Anne’s most recent travels found her in Hawaii on two different occasions. She loved Hawaii, and if she could, would have lived there. Staying near a turtle sanctuary on her last trip, her days were filled with swimming with turtles, whale watching and, of course, a birthday celebration at a luau. She carried those memories with her, and spoke of them often.
Showing her kindness and soft heart every day, Anne worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant in nursing homes for over twenty years. She was known for her caring attitude, a quick smile, making residents laugh, and her desire to make life better for each person she cared for. When Anne moved back to Oregon, she continued her kindness through volunteerism. She helped with a reading program at McKinley Elementary School, did special projects for various organizations, volunteered for the Oregon Humane Society, and was very active at Prince of Peace Episcopal Church in Salem. “What can I do to help?” was a common theme for Anne, even as her limitations increased.
Our dear Anne will be remembered by her family as the lover of all things cats, including owning many throughout the years. She loved books and reading, looking forward to her book study group each week at Prince of Peace. Loving to sing, Anne was always up for karaoke with a country song or two. She will be carried in the hearts of her family for her joy of life, her love of family and her laugh. We all knew that once Anne started laughing, we were in for a long moment, and us joining in. Her sense of humor was contagious.
A large family who loved our Annie, feels her loss tremendously. She will be forever in the hearts of siblings Patric Miller (Debbie), Jane Miller Evans (Steve), Molly Miller, seven nieces and their families, Joni Busche (Chad, Andrew and Zach), Brooke Brownlee (Ryan, Sofia and Charlotte) Amy Samarin (Pete, Olivia and Andon), Katie McGuire (Jake), Rachel Davis (Fletcher and Addy) Ali deAnda (Ryan), Maddy Engel (Josh), her church family and others that knew her. A special thank you from the family to Battle Creek Memory Care and Brighton Hospice for the love and care given to Anne. Memorials can be made to the Oregon Humane Society or the Miller Church Fund c/o 11610 Pine Place, Anderson Island, WA 98303. A Celebration of Life will be held on March 28 at 1:00 pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Salem, Oregon. Private interment at the Miller Cemetery in Silverton will be held the next day. Anne loved the color purple and all things Hawaiian. The family invites you to wear her favorite colors to celebrate her vibrant spirit at her Celebration of Life. In her memory read a book, tell someone you love them, reach out and help someone, adopt a cat and share a hearty laugh.
Anne MacFarland Miller was born on February 25, 1958 to Lionel and Margot (Burridge) Miller, their third child in what would become a family of four children. From the beginning, Anne’s affinity toward cats and animals was present, as well as her soft heart always wanting to help someone in need. She was a Brownie, active in Sunday School, and loved time in St. Helens with our Grandpa and Grandma Miller. She loved stuffed animals, and sometimes was hard to locate under the collection of her favorite stuffies on her bed!
Anne loved travel and adventure. Many times she joined our Dad on camping and backpacking trips that were sponsored through the Parkrose School District in the
1970’s, as well as loving all the family vacations. Following graduation from Parkrose High School in 1977, Anne traveled to England to stay with family friends. The highlight of the trip was a handshake from Queen Elizabeth II, a moment she forever treasured. A brief marriage took her to southern California where she could visit Disneyland whenever she wanted while amassing a large collection of Mickey and Minnie Mouse memorabilia. Anne’s most recent travels found her in Hawaii on two different occasions. She loved Hawaii, and if she could, would have lived there. Staying near a turtle sanctuary on her last trip, her days were filled with swimming with turtles, whale watching and, of course, a birthday celebration at a luau. She carried those memories with her, and spoke of them often.
Showing her kindness and soft heart every day, Anne worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant in nursing homes for over twenty years. She was known for her caring attitude, a quick smile, making residents laugh, and her desire to make life better for each person she cared for. When Anne moved back to Oregon, she continued her kindness through volunteerism. She helped with a reading program at McKinley Elementary School, did special projects for various organizations, volunteered for the Oregon Humane Society, and was very active at Prince of Peace Episcopal Church in Salem. “What can I do to help?” was a common theme for Anne, even as her limitations increased.
Our dear Anne will be remembered by her family as the lover of all things cats, including owning many throughout the years. She loved books and reading, looking forward to her book study group each week at Prince of Peace. Loving to sing, Anne was always up for karaoke with a country song or two. She will be carried in the hearts of her family for her joy of life, her love of family and her laugh. We all knew that once Anne started laughing, we were in for a long moment, and us joining in. Her sense of humor was contagious.
A large family who loved our Annie, feels her loss tremendously. She will be forever in the hearts of siblings Patric Miller (Debbie), Jane Miller Evans (Steve), Molly Miller, seven nieces and their families, Joni Busche (Chad, Andrew and Zach), Brooke Brownlee (Ryan, Sofia and Charlotte) Amy Samarin (Pete, Olivia and Andon), Katie McGuire (Jake), Rachel Davis (Fletcher and Addy) Ali deAnda (Ryan), Maddy Engel (Josh), her church family and others that knew her. A special thank you from the family to Battle Creek Memory Care and Brighton Hospice for the love and care given to Anne. Memorials can be made to the Oregon Humane Society or the Miller Church Fund c/o 11610 Pine Place, Anderson Island, WA 98303. A Celebration of Life will be held on March 28 at 1:00 pm at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Salem, Oregon. Private interment at the Miller Cemetery in Silverton will be held the next day. Anne loved the color purple and all things Hawaiian. The family invites you to wear her favorite colors to celebrate her vibrant spirit at her Celebration of Life. In her memory read a book, tell someone you love them, reach out and help someone, adopt a cat and share a hearty laugh.
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