Dolores Ann Miller

Dolores was born on December 12, 1934 in Eugene to Frank and Alberta Smith. She lived in Mill City until the age of 12, when her family moved to Sheridan. She was valedictorian of the Senior Class of 1953 at Sheridan High School, where her father was both her teacher and principal.

Dolores married Orvan Miller on August 2, 1953 on her parents' lawn in Sheridan. The couple and their children lived in Sheridan, Winston and Blaine, before settling in Salem in 1963.

Dolores was a homemaker until moving to Salem, at which time she started her secretarial career. In 1972 she began working as the Administrative Supervisor at Brenner & Company and remained there for 44 years until, after several attempts, she finally retired in December 2016 at the age of 82.

She was a 60-year member of Salem Mennonite Church, where she served many years as church board secretary.

Dolores loved and supported her family and organized many opportunities for them to spend time together. She enjoyed stamp collecting, reading and watching TV, while sitting in her chair by the front window with her dog on her lap. She liked to go out to eat (especially Chinese food), visit the coast and travel. She and Orvan were avid NASCAR fans and they traveled together to many races in California and Nevada over the years.

Dolores is survived by her daughter Debra (Brent) Kauffman of Lebanon, sons Harold (Paula) and Dan, both of Salem, 9 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and her beloved dachshund Sophie.

She was preceded in death by her husband Orvan of 62 years, her parents Frank and Alberta Smith, and her sister Marguerite "Peggy" McCoy.

Services for Dolores will be on Monday, October 30, and include a private family burial at Fox Valley Cemetary in Lyons at 11:00 AM, followed by a public memorial service at 2:00 PM at Salem Mennonite Church.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made in Dolores's name to Union Gospel Mission of Salem, or Marion Polk Food Share, charities that she supported monthly until her death.

Finally, the family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at the Sweet Bye N Bye Memory Care Facility for the wonderful loving care they gave to "Dololo" during her last two years of life. Even though she wasn't always able to express herself, we know that she, as well as the entire family, felt very much at home there.