Beatrice Baylies Miller

Beatrice Baylies Miller "Wife, mother, grandmother, friend and patriot" 1921~2003   Beatrice Baylies Miller passed away at the Salt Lake City Veterans Administration Medical Center on Monday,  November 17, 2003. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts on June 3, 1921 to Lincoln and Mary Beatrice Ballard Baylies. She attended private schools at Windsor in Newton, Massachusetts and the Shipley School in Pennsylvania and attended classes at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. She married Nicholas Vernal Miller February 28, 1945 in London,  England.  She was a self-educated intellectual with a love for books and documents on our country's history.  She exemplified her life with class and will leave a tremendous void in our lives.  Her work experiences included over 20 years of Civil Service.  She retired from Federal employment in 1986. She endowed in her children that tremendous work ethic "you do not get anything for free." In addition to her many accomplishments she served with the First Mobile WAC, a group of women selected from several training centers throughout the country and with the 12th Army Group on the staff of General Omar Bradley (S-3) during World War II.  She was assigned as a top secret control clerk in Operation Overload, the landing of allied troops in Europe. She was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with four bronze stars. These military experiences took her close to the battle fronts of Europe, Normandy and the Ardennes experiencing dangerous encounters as a courier and being shot at by a sniper while carrying documents near a German occupied town. She had a great love for her country, which was instilled in her by her father Lincoln Baylies. Her spiritual faith carried her through many trials and tribulations in life. She never complained about life's unexpected turns. In a tribute to her father several years ago she mentioned his complete love and devotion to family, often sacrificing his own needs for others. The same can be said about her. She was truly a champion. Her letters to her sons during their military service were encouraging, expressing faith and hope that all would be well in their safe return.  Above all, she had a tremendous compassion for animals, that they have a place on this earth.  Her humor and laughter were contagious. She knew how to have a good time. During her youth in the 30's and 40's she enjoyed many sporting events that included swimming, tennis, sailing and "eastern" horse riding. Her motto was "get with it and get on with life". Her passing, though difficult, will leave a legacy in our lives. We as a family have inherited many of her traits, compassion, sensitivity, independence, stubbornness and character. She was an individual you could count on during difficult times. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Humane Society donor, LDS church genealogy enthusiast, election poll attendant and past member of the American Red Cross, giving aid during the Great Boston Fire of 1942 at the Coconut Grove.  She is survived by her husband, Nicholas Vernal Miller, son's Nicholas W. Miller (Debra) of Bountiful; Lincoln Ballard Miller, Coos Bay, OR. Grandchildren Madeline, Nichole and Lincoln Miller; sister Nancy Bickford of Mary Ester Florida; sister-in-law Rita Baylies and niece Marilyn Ruzicka of St. Petersburg, FL, nephew Robert Baylies of FL; cousin Winthrop Allen Baylies (Mary Jane) of Boston, Mass. Preceded in death by her parents, daughter Virginia Baylies Miller, and brothers Lincoln and Robert Baylies. Special thanks to Harmony Home Health, Age Connections, Davis County Sheriff and Paramedics, Bountiful Fire Department EMT's and the staff of the Veterans Administration Medical Center, especially Dr. Parker and Dr. Wanner and John Ischmal for initialing the Hospice program at the VAMC. Funeral services will be held Friday, November 21, 2003 at 11 a.m. at the Val Verda Ninth Ward Chapel, 2651 South 500 West in Bountiful.  Friends and family may call Thursday 6 to 8 p.m. at the ward chapel and one hour prior to services. Interment, Salt Lake City cemetery.  Funeral directors, Lindquist's Bountiful Mortuary, 727 North 400 East. Donations can be made in her name to the Utah Alliance for the Mentally Ill, 309 East 100 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84111 or the Humane Society of Utah, 4242 South 300 West, Murray, UT 84107 e-mail condolences to the family at llm@lindquistmortuary.com