Frances Miller of Gerber passed away peacefully on April 17, 2023, at her care facility in Redding, California at the age of 93. Frances was born in Garden City, Kansas on January 10, 1930. She was the middle of 3 children. Both her older brother, Bill Gardner, and younger brother, George Whitely preceded her in death, as did her son William Zane in 1962 and daughter Debbie Humphreys in 2014.
Frances was moved to California when she was just 3 months old. She was raised in Greenwood, California by her grandparents. They lived in a 2 room log cabin her grandfather built with no electricity nor indoor plumbing. During her elementary years, she attended school in a one-room schoolhouse in Greenwood where every grade (all of 8 students) was taught together by the same teacher.
When she was 14, in the midst of World War II, she was sent to live with her mother in Pico Rivera while her father was in the Navy in the South Pacific. She attended and graduated from Whittier High School in 1947. She often recalled going to Los Angeles with groups of friends and dancing to big band swing music the likes of Glenn Miller’s Orchestra and others. When she was 18 she met and married Joe Miller. Together they had son, Ken, and daughter Debbie. They eventually divorced and in 1954 she married Glenn Miller (not of the orchestra). Together they had daughter Glenna, sons John, Geof, Harold, William, and 12 years later another daughter, Kimberly.
Frances, Glenn, and their brood of children moved to Gerber in 1956 where she has lived ever since. She spent nearly 25 years living and working on the ranch in Gerber as well as working as an aide with disabled students both at Red Bluff High and Berrendos Schools. She was also a volunteer with the United Way. In the late 70’s she worked as a bookkeeper for several cattle operations.
By the early 80’s she moved into town and began work as a bookkeeper for Dudley’s Sand and Gravel, where she worked for over a decade until her retirement in the mid 90’s. After retirement, she cared for her ailing father until his death and subsequently raised granddaughter Sheena.
Frances is survived by 6 of her children, 12 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
Sons: Ken Miller (Ginger), John Miller, Geof Miller (Cathy), Harold Miller (Stacy) and son-in-law Tommie Humphreys (Debbie).
Daughters: Glenna Miller and Kim Cardoza (Michael).
Grandsons: Johnny Miller, Shane Humphreys, Michael Monroe, Geoffrey Miller, and Zane Cardoza.
Granddaughters: Sheena Owens, Bailey Randel, Casey Rounds, Taylor Miller, Natalie Shamp, Shana Card, and Michela Cardoza.
She was known as mom, Aunt Frances, Grandma, Gram, G.G., friend, and an angel to many! She loved children and nothing more than to have her family and friends together. She looked for and found the good in everyone. Her intelligence, wit, and wisdom were only outshined by her kindness, compassion, and resiliency. She was a light in our world that will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Shriners Children’s Hospital: www.lovetotherescue.org/give
