Lila Marie Bowman Miller

Lila Marie Bowman Miller

December 29, 1923 – November 28, 2015

Obituary

Lila Marie Bowman Miller, age 91, passed away Saturday November 28, 2015 after a long and productive life. She was born in Dayton, Ohio to parents Leota Hill Bowman and John Samuel Bowman. Due to her husband’s death when Lila was very young, Lila’s mother Leota had to turn the care of her daughter over to sister Gladys Hill Reader who took her into her home and raised her as a beloved daughter. After graduating from high school in 1942 Lila began to earn her way in the world, working as a secretary at Wright Patterson Air Force base during WWII in order to do her bit for the war effort. It was there that she met Oscar Miller Jr. They married in 1945 and were together for the next 67 years.

Over the years life took her to Trotwood, Ohio where she and husband Ozzie raised their two daughters. Lila was never one to sit idle. She took a job at the town hall working as secretary for the police department and five different mayors. In the middle 1960’s work and Ozzie’s family eventually brought them to Houston, Texas where she continued to serve her community as a secretary to the Houston Police department, the Houston Helicopter division and finally the Houston Police Academy from which she retired early in order to care for her mother who had developed Alzheimer’s.

Lila lived life with gusto. Her interests included movies, theater, books, museums, gardening, travel, bowling, horseback riding, roller skating, music, art and, of course, photography. She was an active church member of Immanuel United Church of Christ in Spring, Texas for almost 46 years. Her active life was hampered beginning in 2002 by a bad case of shingles and the resulting post herpetic neuralgia. Finally, increasing dementia dimmed, but never quite vanquished her vibrant spirit.

Lila's family would like to thank all those who loved her and enriched her life, her family, friends, and her church family. We would especially like to thank all the nurses and doctors who cared for her and helped make her more comfortable through the years. Last, but far from least, we want to thank the wonderful staff of caregivers and administrators of Brookdale Senior Living Cypress Station. Your love, respect, and attention to both her needs and ours helped make her last years so much easier and more peaceful. Thank you all.

She was preceded in death by husband Oscar Miller, Jr. always known as Ozzie; brother Walter Bowman, brothers-in-law Leslie Miller, Bill Miller, Larry Miller, son-in-law Steve Sherman and too many friends to enumerate.

She is survived by daughter, Lynda Miller Sherman; daughter, Debra Miller Sirois and husband Michael; also DJ Bagwell whom she regarded as another daughter. Other survivors include, sister-in-law, Vanessa Bishop Miller; nephews Mike Miller; Steve Miller and wife Julie; David Miller; Darren Miller and wife Julie; Brazos Miller; niece-in-law, Sue Miller and a large number of great-nieces and great-nephews. The Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be Friday December 4 at 10 a.m., in the Chapel of Earthman Resthaven. Interment will follow at Earthman Resthaven Cemetery. Pallbearers will be: Michael Sirois, Doug Sherman, Mike Miller, Darren Miller, David Miller, Brazos Miller, and Steve Miller.