Shirley R. Miller

1929 - 2015

Shirley Rhea Miller

Born: March 5, 1929; in Amarillo, TX

Died: Jan. 9, 2015; in Woodstock, IL

Shirley Rhea Miller, of McHenry, Illinois, passed away peacefully on January 9, 2015, at Journey Care in Woodstock, Illinois. She was born March 5, 1929, in Amarillo, Texas.

Shirley is survived by her brother and best friend, Elbert (Jay) Irving of Afton, Iowa; and her three children, Annette Verchota of McHenry, Illinois, Wendy (Don) Eames of Round Rock, Texas, and Timothy (Carmen) Miller of Spring, Texas. Shirley had 6 grandchildren who loved her to pieces, Jill, Andy, and Molly Verchota, Sara Eames, and Jantzen and Quinn Miller. Shirley will be missed by her cousins and nieces and nephews, Dorothy (Nick)Freeman, Allen Maxstadt, Bobby (Barbara) Maxstadt, Ron (Colleen) Maxstadt, Judy (Ed) Scherzer, and Kevin (Melissa) Irving.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Wilbur (Bill) Miller; and her parents, Fern and Hugh Irving; and an infant sister, Joyce.

Shirley spent her childhood and early adulthood in Iowa and graduated from high school at Mt. Ayr, Iowa in 1947. She went to college for normal training in order to teach. She relocated to Illinois and raised her 3 children until 1979. Thereafter; she and her husband spent many happy years retired in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The last 5 years she lived by her daughters in Round Rock, Texas and McHenry, Illinois where she resided at McHenry Villa. It was Shirley's early years in rural, Iowa, that she loved , and her experiences during the Depression that became her heart and soul going forward.

Her home and her family were the center of her life that she surrounded with beautiful gardens, wonderful food, coffee time conversation, and nurturing care.

Shirley cherished simplicity and peacefulness in people and nature. She loved to travel to beautiful spots in our country. Most of all, she will be remembered for her selflessness as she shared her concern for the less fortunate through volunteering at the hospital and sharing with homeless shelters, food pantries, and the Box Project in Mississippi. Shirley was blessed with special times with extended family that included her grandchildren that we will always carry in our hearts.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, January 12, 2015, at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa with burial to follow in Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr.

In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to local shelters, food pantries, or any location of people in need.

Online condolences may be left at www.watsonarmstrongfh.com.