Alice May Miller

Alice Mae Miller of Tigard passed away on November 14, 2015. Alice was born on June 6, 1927 in Dixon, IL, to Mae and Raymond Schmidt. She is survived by her husband, Buster Ray Miller of Tigard, Oregon. Mrs. Miller loved her family, her church, community and civic service, especially the Oregon Federation of Women’s Clubs (OFWC).

In 1948, after graduating with a double major in chemistry and mathematics from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA, Alice moved to Corvallis, Oregon, for a research position at Oregon State University’s chemistry laboratory. While at OSU, she met her first husband, John Lawrence, the father of her two children, Jeffrey Lawrence of Tucson, AZ, and Janette Lawrence of Culver City, CA. The Lawrence’s moved to the North Bend and Coos Bay Area in the early 1950’s. In the Bay Area, they owned and operated a Western Auto hardware franchise for two years and then Alice was a math and chemistry substitute teacher. During that time, Alice was very active in the North Bend Presbyterian Church, President of the Zenith Club – a branch of the OFWC and the local AAUW chapter.

Alice later married Buster Ray Miller, moving to Eugene then Halsey. She and Ray owned and operated the Halsey Kash and Carry grocery store from 1974-1995, expanding it from a corner market to a large, full service operation. While in Halsey, Alice continued her church service and civic activism. She became President of the OFWC in 1974, while remaining active in her local Corvallis and Albany clubs.

Upon selling the Halsey store and retiring, the Miller’s moved to Tigard, Oregon in 1997. During her retirement years, Alice once again became President of the OFWC in 1998, remained active in her local Portland Zenith Club and the Tigard United Methodist Church. She also enjoyed golf, scrabble and any type of card game.

In addition to her husband, son and daughter, Mrs. Miller is survived by her stepdaughters, Donna Hawkins, of Eugene and stepdaughter, Linda Miller, of Stevenson, Washington. A stepson, Keith Miller preceded her in death.

Services for Mrs. Miller will be on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 2 p.m. at the Tigard United Methodist Church, 9845 SW Walnut Place, Tigard. In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Alice’s life with a gift to the Tigard United Methodist Church or the Oregon Federation of Women’s Clubs.