Margaret Elizabeth Miller

Margaret was born in 1926 on a farm east of Wellman, Iowa. She attended Wellman High School and often traveled the two miles to school on foot or by horse. She played clarinet in the marching band, sang in the glee club chorus, acted in theatrical productions, and graduated salutatorian in 1943.

After high school, Margaret worked as a nurse’s aide in the pediatric department at the University of Iowa Hospital and at age 17 began teaching at Smith Creek School in Washington County, Iowa, a one-room school for kindergarten through eighth-grade students. She later taught 7th and 8th grade in West Chester, Iowa.

Margaret met Howard Miller at Wellman High. Howard was drafted after graduation in 1943. In 1945, Howard and Margaret were married and enjoyed 72 years together until Howard's passing in 2017. They lived in Tennessee, Missouri, and Illinois before moving to Tucson, Arizona, in 1963 and then Phoenix in 1966.

Margaret was always eager to learn new things and was an avid reader her whole life. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Master’s in Education and was the librarian at Ironwood Elementary School in Phoenix until her retirement. During their grand-parenting years, Margaret and Howard continued the teaching tradition by regularly volunteering at Irving Elementary School in Mesa, Arizona.

Howard and Margaret loved visiting and hosting company, traveling, following ASU Sun Devil football, and playing a game of contract bridge. Margaret was also a wonderful cook and baker, with her Christmas cookies holding a special place as a beloved family tradition. Margaret and Howard attended Bethany Presbyterian Church in Phoenix for more than thirty years. Margaret’s kindness, intelligence, empathy, and grace will certainly be missed by all of those who had the pleasure of knowing her.

Margaret was predeceased by her parents Edward and Elizabeth, her sister Marcia (Daryl), Potsander, and husband Howard. She is survived by son Douglas Miller of Mesa, and grandchildren Lauren (Brian) Salas and Reid Miller, both of Chicago, Illinois.

A private service will be held at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona.