Mary Catherine Farrington Miller

Mary Catherine Farrington Miller was born in Houston on the 19th of November 1928, to Bernice Brunson and William Giddings Farrington. She died peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, on Sunday, the 22nd of July 2018. She will be deeply missed by her family and her many friends.

Mary Catherine, a fifth generation Texan, grew up in Houston, attended Poe, Lanier and Lamar, and then graduated from The Hockaday School. She received her B.A. from Randolph-Macon Women’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1949. Then she attended Rice University. She returned to school and earned her MBA from Houston Baptist University in 1979.

She married William James Miller (“Bill”) at Christ Church Cathedral in Houston on December 28, 1950. They enjoyed two years in Boston while Bill completed his MBA at Harvard Business School. Their first two children were born in Boston. She always remembered that time as one of the happiest experiences of her life.

Mary Catherine had a ready smile, a fun sense of humor, a strong faith and was generous with encouraging words. Always keeping her husband’s, children’s and grandchildren’s interests in mind, she involved herself in many school, church, social and civic activities.

She taught Sunday school and served on the Vestry at St. John the Divine and later returned to St. Martin’s Episcopal Church. When she was a young child, her father had purchased some land with a large house on Post Oak road and later invited Reverend Bagby to live in the house, and so the first church service of St. Martin’s was held there, on Sunday, September 20, 1952.

To commemorate St. Martin’s 60th anniversary in 2012, “The Welcoming Christ” stone relief was placed above the front doors of the church. The tympanum was dedicated on January 29, 2012 in memory her husband and parents. It was designed by her daughter, Michelle Shedd.

Mary Catherine valued education and community service. While in college she joined the Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity and remained an active member for the rest of her life. She served as President of the Theta Mothers’ Club and Chairman of the 40th Theta Charity Antique Show in 1992. Her children honored her with a scholarship given in her name. She served on the board of St. John’s School, where her children attended. She was an avid supporter and board member of the Neuhaus Education Center.

While a student at Rice University she was a member of the Elizabeth Baldwin Literary Society. Later she served on the Friends of Fondren Library board.

When her children were young, she was enthusiastic and involved with Camp Fire Girls, Cub and Boy Scouts of America. She loved attending her children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events, recitals, plays and other activities. Her many civic involvements included The Houston Symphony, Houston Country Club, The Tanglewood Homes Association and the Uptown Houston Board. She was a docent at Bayou Bend for 28 years and served on the Bayou Bend Committee for 13 years.

Her greatest pride and pleasure was her family and her many cherished friendships, young and old. She was a devoted daughter, wife, mother and friend. Her family spent many happy weekends together at their home on Lake Travis. In later years, after her husband’s death, she continued to travel with family and friends, always looking forward to new experiences. Her love for life never faded. She was truly inspirational.

She wished to express her appreciation to the staff of the Tanglewood Corporation for their devotion, guidance and loyalty to her, throughout her life. In 2008, she moved to the Hallmark where she enjoyed many friends and the loving care of the employees and the staff of the Hallmark.

There are angels that walk among us. We would like to thank her devoted care givers, especially La Shonda Mouton-Kelly and Tara Session.

Mary Catherine was preceded in death by her brother Charles William Farrington, her parents Bernice and William Giddings Farrington and her husband of fifty five years, William James Miller. She was the mother of test pilot/flight surgeon Captain William Farrington Miller, MD/ USNR (ret), his children, William Farrington Miller, II, Whitney Kelley, her husband, T J Kelley and their son James, daughter, Catherine Michelle Miller Shedd and her husband, Clifford Ernest Shedd and their children, William Travis Shedd and Daniel Oliver Shedd and his wife Amber Marie Shedd, son James Giddings Miller and his wife Amy Lynn Miller and their son Kyle Dalton Pence, and son, Kendall Alan Farrington Miller and his wife, Cynthia Marshall Miller and their three sons, Austin Truett Miller, Marshall Giddings Miller and Weston Alan Miller, step-grandchildren include James and Jennifer Shedd, Robert John and Kristin Shedd and step great grandchildren Oliver, Clara and Tobias.

Those designated to serve as honorary pallbearers are Bolivar Andrews, Robert G. Greer, Wallace Wilson, John Breeding, Thomas McMahan, Raleigh W. Johnson. Dr. William D Winters, Dr. Barry Wood, Dr. James Pool, Gene Shepherd, George Sealy, Albert Smith, III and L. Henry Gissel.

A memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Thursday, the 26th of July, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the adjacent Bagby Parish Hall.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed toward St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Rd., Houston, TX 77056; M.D. Anderson Annual Fund, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486; or to The Winters Library at The Houston Methodist Foundation, P.O. Box 4384, Houston, TX 77210-4384.