Betty Marie Miller

1925 - 2018

Betty Marie (Yates) Miller, age 93, of Knoxdale, Pa., passed away peacefully on Friday, July 6, 2018 at the McKinley Health Center in Brookville, Pa.
She was born on January 13, 1925 to the late James Arnold and Frieda (Dinger) Yates in Brookville, Pa. She attended the Brookville Area School District.
On one fateful day, she joined her friend at her friend's home for dinner. Once inside and sitting at the dinner table she saw a man with curly black hair who had icy blue eyes. He saw across from himself a dark haired, brown eyed beauty; they were both smitten. She would love to share with people that they both had baby brothers. Then on November 14, 1941 she married that man, his name was William James Miller Jr., and he preceded her in death in 1989.
She worked many years at Cameron in Reynoldsville, Pa. During World War II, Betty worked alongside her sisters-in-law in Buffalo in the military airplane factory. She also babysat many children through the years.
She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, the Knoxdale Methodist Church, and Center Hill Community Church on Knoxdale Road. Betty was a Sunday school and Bible school teacher. She was very involved with the Sunday school convention and she was also a delegate to the United Methodist Conference.
After her small but meaningful wedding day, they bought a home in Knoxdale, that was 1948. She and William were raised only a mile from each other and both were truly lifelong residents of the Knoxdale community. They set up housekeeping in the Holly house, which was their grandparents' homestead. Her home was always open as a haven, a place of refuge for family and friends who were in need.
She was very good with her hands and she had many talents which included crocheting, knitting, and quilting. She made quilts for all her children, and for many different babies. She would also create oil paintings. Betty was a member of the Brookville Hot-Footers, beautifully square dancing all over the area. She also had a green thumb when it came to growing and cultivating orchids. More than any of those things, she loved her family and was very proud of her children and grandchildren.
Betty is survived by one son, Dennis (Ronda) Miller of Barrington, Ill.; three daughters, Marsha (John) Dunham of Brookville, Pa., Janet Withrow of Richmond, Va., Deanne (Ken) Reese of Apollo, Pa.; eight grandchildren: Carey Miholics, John (Jess) Dunham, Sonya Miller, Alysa Miller, Nichole Matthews, Charles Withrow, Micah Reese, Krista Reese; and six great-grandchildren.
Family and friends will be received on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, from 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., at the Knoxdale United Methodist Church, 8021 Knoxdale Rd., Knoxdale, PA 15847. A funeral service will immediately follow the viewing, beginning at 12:30 p.m., and officiated by Pastor Joni Williams. Interment will take place at the Knoxdale Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Knox Twp., Jefferson County, Pa.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the McKinney – d'Argy Funeral Home, ltd, 345 Main St., Brookville, PA, 15825.
Memorial contributions can be made in her name to the Knox Twp., Fire Company, or to the Knoxdale Mount Pleasant Cemetery Association, or to the Knoxdale United Methodist Church.
Online condolences and other information may be found at www.mckinneydargy.com.