Ruth Miller-Bybee

Born September 13, 1932 in Gilstrap, Kentucky to Leamon and Myra Jane (Cochran) White, she married Ivan Earl Miller on August 24, 1949 in Pekin. He died on November 6, 2002 in Peoria. She later married Wesley Dale Bybee on April 16, 2003. He died November 17, 2012 in Pekin. She also was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Leonard Miller; two brothers, James White and Clifford White; one half-brother, Dale White; two half-sisters, Gwendolyn Hoover and Eudena Cook and one step-brother, Kenneth Parks.

Surviving are one daughter, Sheila Bagley of Pekin; three sons, Ivan (Gail) Miller, II, Ted (Sherrie) Miller and Owen (Jane) Miller, all of Pekin; one daughter-in-law, Teresa Miller of Manito; eight grandchildren, Tracey (Troy) Mott of Marion, Nicholas (Alexia) Ramsey of Chicago, Ivan “Bud” Miller, III of Spring Lake, Sarah (Chris) Cummings of Pekin, Jamie (Brian) Nieukirk of Lowell, Arkansas, Duane (Amanda) Miller of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Melanie Miller of Pekin and Dawn Miller of Hanna City; nineteen great-grandchildren; two brothers, Robert (Hallie) White of Ohio and Huey White of Kentucky; one sister, Anita (Wayne) Miller of Kentucky and one half-sister, Pat (Daryl) Snodgrass of Kentucky.

Ruth last worked at County Market in Pekin in the Bakery Department for 12 years. She previously worked at the Dairy Queen in Pekin for 17 years. She also had worked at Stafford’s Dairy and for Morton Pottery. In all, Ruth loved to work and was a hard worker all her life.

She loved to work in her yard doing vegetable and flower gardening. She had the gift of growing great tomatoes.

Ruth attended Summit Point Church in East Peoria and previously attended First Baptist Church of Manito.

A celebration of life gathering will be held at a later date. Private burial was in Dillon Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

The family would like to offer a special thanks to her sister-in-law, Carol Miller of Green Valley for her faithful ministry to Ruth.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com