Ardith Ellen Miller

Our dear mother, Ardith Ellen Miller (nee Webb) was 92 when she died on December 19, 2014 at the North Las Vegas, Nevada home of her son Thomas Miller and his wife, Prajit. Born September 17, 1922 in Shannon, Iowa to Gilbert and Edna Webb, Ardith was raised on her parent’s farm with her eight siblings. After graduating Mt. Ayr High School with the class of 1940, she attended Missouri State Teachers College. As the new teacher at a rural one-room school house near Mt. Ayr, Iowa she caught the eye of the somewhat shy, handsome young man who lived on a nearby farm. His name was Bob and he spent the fall and winter being especially attentive to Ardith and the needs of the school. She was impressed that he stopped by a each cold morning with wood to set a fire in the school house stove and brought Ardith a Christmas tree for the school. Romance bloomed. Bob and Ardith eloped that spring. Our parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Burton Miller, were married for 62 years until our father’s death in 2004. They had quite a life together. Ardith is survived by their five children: Robert Burton II and his wife Ellen of Mililani, Oahu, Hawaii; Thomas Gilbert Miller and his wife Prajit of North Las Vegas, Nevada; Kevin Pamela and Michael Gersick of Berkeley, CA; Kelly Christopher of Hohenfelf, Germany; and Tamara Kaye Browning of Ansbach, Germany. Ours was a career US Air Force family and Mother and Dad were every bit a team. As a family, moved a lot. We lived and traveled the world over and it was Mother who so expertly orchestrated the packing up of one household and the sometimes months'-long transition to a new residence. Everything we owned was packed and unpacked so many times over the years, yet whether it was preparing for years in Africa or a five-month stay in Maryland while Dad attended language school, in each new house or apartment, she created a home. There were many instances when when our Father was away from home for long periods of time (he served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam) during which Mother had to bear full responsibility for her children, despite the fears for Bob she must have struggled with. She was strong for all of us. Our Mother was always busy. She was a substitute teacher; Den Mother all during her sons' Boy Scout years,; President of so many PTA's they defy listing; sorority sister of Beta Sigma Phi, and a "Grey Lady" for the Red Cross for over 40 years. When Dad retired from the USAF, after 33 years, our folks and the two youngest children settled near Sacramento, CA where at age 53, Mother fulfilled a lifelong dream by graduating nursing school. We were all very proud of her. She loved being a nurse. When all their children were grown, and living elsewhere, Mother and Dad moved to Jackson, CA where they made long lasting friendships and worked tirelessly for a wide variety of community organizations. They were a moving force behind the creation of the Interfaith Food Bank in Jackson, CA and they volunteered thousands of hours to its success over decades. They were also devoted to their local Baptist Church. In addition to her children, Ardith is survived by her beautiful grandchildren Robert Burton III and Sue Miller and their children Kai and Elyssa who live in Oyama, Japan; Michael and Erin Ramos of Mililani, Oahu, Hawaii; Kevin Miller of Las Vegas, NV; Tom and Trinity Miller of Las Vegas, NV; Anjela and Don Prothero and their daughter Olivia of Las Vegas, NV; Sean Miller and his family of Samford, Maine; Kristen Miller of Sacramento, CA; Caitlin Miller of Sacramento, CA; Miranda Kevin Browning of Ansbach, Germany; Adam and Alisa Gersick and their children Kaya Raine and Sienna Rose of Redwood City, CA; and Noah Benjamin Gersick of Boulder Creek, CA. Ardith was predeceased by her loving husband Bob, her parents, her brothers Max, Lynn, and Gerald; sisters, "Babe", Imogene and Pauline as well as her dear friend Myrtle Stone. She is survived by her children, her sister Barbara Jean Yaeger of Modesto CA and brother Bill Webb and his wife Norma of Iowa and their families. Ardith is also survived by special friends Dan & Kim Conley of Jackson, CA and Myrtle’s husband, Stoney, of Sutter Creek, CA who is loved by our family and was our Dad's best friend ever. There will be no memorial service. Mother’s remains were cremated and will be interred next to those of our father. Should you wish to make a charitable donation in Ardith's name, please consider the Interfaith Food Bank in Jackson, CA ([email protected]) or the Hospice organization in your community.