Norma Penelope Miller

Norma was born on August 9, 1938, to Penelope Chase Brown and William Joseph Eberhart, in Palisade, Colorado. While she was young, she lived in Craig, Colorado with her family, but returned to the Grand Valley where she attended Grand Junction High School and graduated in 1956.

She attended BYU in Provo, Utah and graduated with an associate degree in business in 1958. While in college, she played violin for the orchestra and was able to travel around in the United States and Canada performing. Later she would go on to perform in the Grand Junction Symphony. She liked adventure, and learned to be a pilot, flying her first solo before age 18. She even modeled on cars for local businesses and was runner up Palisade Peach Queen in 1956.

She rang in the New Year of 1958 on a blind date set up by her brother, Bill, where she met her forever sweetheart, James Owen Miller, Jr.. While he trained as a para trooper in the 82nd Airborne, they sent adoring letters that led to their engagement and marriage on September 12, 1958. Jim and Norma were sealed for time and all eternity in the Manti Utah Temple on January 22, 1966. They spent time in North Carolina during their first year of marriage, living in Fort Bragg. Norma worked as a bookkeeper and legal secretary, but working in the home was her passion. Once she became a mother, she dedicated her life to her family. She loved her family and her grandchildren more than anything. If she wasn’t serving them in some way, she enjoyed making music on the violin, ukulele, or the piano. She was a dedicated organist in her church for years. She loved camping and traveling with her husband, around the world or just to one of his Western Outlaw and Lawmen Association Conferences; she was an eager passenger. She loved supporting Jim in his outlaw obsession.

She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where she performed countless volunteer hours. She even served in the Monticello Temple as a worker there. She also spent two years serving at the Bishop’s Storehouse Food Bank, where she met many friends and enjoyed serving the community.

Norma was preceded in death by her husband, James O. Miller Jr.; her parents, William and Penelope Eberhart; and brothers, John, William and Harry Eberhart.

She is survived by her daughters, Kathy Lange of Carson City, Nevada, Alice (Dan) Young of Fruita, Colorado, Christine Miller and Taher Afghani of Benbow, California, and Heidi Miller of Grand Junction; brother, Gardner Eberhart and sister-in-laws, Donna and Joanne Eberhart. She had 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; with many other beloved nieces and nephews as well.

She will be terribly missed, but the reunion on the other side must have been sweet. Her funeral will be held on Saturday, September 28th, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., at the LDS chapel in Orchard Mesa, 2949 Highway 50, with the viewing to begin at 10:30. There will be a luncheon to follow.