Patricia Johnson Miller

Patricia Johnson “Pat” Miller, beloved mother and grandmother, went into the arms of her precious Savior on Friday, the 25th of November, following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease. She was 84 years of age.

She was born on the 28th November 1937, in Abilene, Texas, to Thomas Dudley Johnson, Sr. and Nina Franks Johnson. Pat was the youngest of their four children and was affectionately referred to as “Baby Pat” by her relatives even after she had children of her own.

Pat received a scholarship to attend Hardin Simmons University after raising the grand champion turkey at the livestock show. It wasn’t long into her freshman year before she was noticed by upperclassman tennis player, Wayne Miller. Wayne and Pat’s relationship quickly progressed and they were married when Pat was 20 years old. Pat learned to play tennis so she could compete in mixed doubles with her husband in tournaments at the championship level. Wayne, with Dale Culwell and Bill Sherman, established the World Oilmen’s Tennis Tournament at the Houston Racquet Club in 1977. The tournament continues strong today.

Pat accepted Christ as a young girl and over the years, that relationship deepened and guided her in every aspect of her life. Her family was her greatest earthly love and they were always aware of her devotion and support. Pat was beautiful both physically and spiritually. Everyone she met felt equally valued and loved. Pat was loyal, generous and gave freely of her time, love and resources to her husband, children, and grandchildren. She loved to travel and made wonderful memories traveling with friends and family.

Her passion for interior design began with the six homes in which she and her husband lived during their 56-year marriage. In her early forties, Pat went to the University of Houston to study interior design and she later formed the company, Pat Miller Interiors. Houston might have been her residence but Second Baptist Church was her true home. Pat loved the Lord passionately and during her 47-year church membership, she served as youth and adult teacher, youth beach retreat counselor, MOP (mother of preschoolers) mentor, Masterlife leader and she supported her husband when he was chairman of the deacons during the campaign to build the new worship center.

Pat was called “Mimi” by her grandchildren and she made priceless memories with them at the ranch as they swam, fished and fed the cows together. She attended all their school programs, recitals, sporting events, theatre performances and graduations. Pat made countless visits to celebrate every birthday and milestone with her Seattle grandkids. She shared her love of traveling with her grandkids by taking them to Florida, Palms Springs, Charleston, Hawaii, Italy, the Mediterranean, London, New York City, Scandinavia, Japan, and the Galapagos Islands.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Nina Johnson; her beloved husband, Charles Wayne Miller; her brothers, Bill Johnson and Thomas Johnson, Jr.; her sister, Juanita Johnson Trumbla; her brother-in-law, Marlin Miller; her sister-in-law, Rose Johnson and her niece, Marla Hartman.

God shined through Pat and she set an example for her surviving family including her daughter, Tracy Miller Wilkerson and her son, Charles Wayne Miller, Jr. to follow. She loved her son-in-law, Richard Wilkerson, and her daughter-in-law, Federica Miller, fervently. However, her joy was her five grandchildren, Joshua Wilkerson, Bailey Wilkerson, Will Wilkerson, Sofia Miller and Thomas Miller. Pat is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Jan Cornebise and her husband Al, Kay Koepp, and her husband Noble, and Melinda Miller; her brother-in-law, Tom Trumbla; as well as numerous beloved nieces, nephews and wonderful friends.

The family would like to thank their mom’s wonderful caregivers, Nancy Cruse, Lakeidra Lewis and Carla Jackson of Private Home Healthcare, for the love they showered on her in her last few years.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Thursday, the 1st of December, in the library and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive, in Houston.

A memorial service celebrating her life is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Friday, the 2nd of December, in the Sanctuary of Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive in Houston, where Dr. H. Edwin Young is to officiate along with Sam Glass and Lee Maxcy.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the nearby Deacons Parlor.

Serving as honorary pallbearers during the services are Mr. Mike Johnson, Mr. Joe Elam, Mr. John Harrell, Mr. Ross LeFevre, Dr. Farid Bakht and Mr. Edd Hendee.

Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private entombment in the Texas Liberty Mausoleum at Memorial Oaks Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, and for those desiring, the family requests with gratitude that contributions in Pat’s memory be directed to Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Drive, Houston, Texas, 77057.