Mary Lee Miller

Mary Lee Miller died June 23, 2025. Mary’s faith was very important to her. She was a member of Guardian Angels Catholic Church for most of her life. She retired from H&S Hardware in 1992 where she was the HR manager. Mary loved the outdoors. She was a member of the Louisville Hiking Club for several years and enjoyed traveling with them to hike in many beautiful scenic destinations. Her other hobbies included watching birds, growing flowers, and making quilts. Mary was preceded in death by her husband James P Miller, her son James T Miller, 2 daughters-in-law Marge Miller, and Brenda Miller, 2 sons-in-law Eddie O’Bryan and Jim Hust. She is survived by 6 sons: Joe Miller, Bob Miller, Steve Miller (Susan), Mike Miller, Johnny Miller (Janet), and Larry Miller. She is also survived by 4 daughters: Maryann O’Bryan, Sharon Miller, Carolyn Hust, Patty Wheeler (Maurice), 29 grandchildren and 60 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass for Mary will be held on Monday June 30, 2025, at St. Gabriel Catholic Church at 10:00am with burial to follow At Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation for Mary will be held on Sunday June 29, 2025, from 4:00-7:00 pm at Arch L. Heady & Son Funeral Home on Preston Hwy.

A brief story of the life of Our Mom, Mary N. Miller, a life well lived:

Our Mom grew up on a farm, and she would sometimes share stories of how she got in trouble with her siblings such as playing in the cornstalk shocks, which tore them down. Or how in the winter she could see outside from the cracks in the walls of the old farmhouse. Her childhood had its challenges, but like us, she had plenty of brothers and sisters to have a lot of fun with and sometimes got in trouble with.

The roller-skating story: Mom and Dad on one of their first dates went roller-skating. Well at some point, Mom fell while roller-skating and my dad, being a gentleman, rolled up behind her to pick her up, not noticing he had roller right on top the edge of her dress. Well needless to say, something had to give when he picked her up while standing on her dress with his roller skate. You can imagine, bringing a young girl home with a ripped dress could of been quite a predicament back then, lots of explaining...but somehow, they both lived to tell about it, or the story would of ended right there.

When Our Dad was all set to propose to my Mom on a scheduled airplane ride around the Louisville air space, as luck will have it the weather caused the flight to be canceled. My Dad not missing a beat, told my Mom, “I guess I will still ask you a question anyhow.” So even though the proposed airplane ride did not happen, the proposal did, and the rest is history.

My Dad told my mom before they got married there are three things I won’t do: Change diapers, Cook dinner, and something else. Well guess what he ended up doing all three several times in his life. Mom and Dad were married August 29th, 1947. The first child, our brother Joe soon followed, Then 11 more soon followed counting the second child that died at birth. So we could have had an even dozen. When My Mom and Dad first got married they lived in an apartment in Louisville. Later they bought 5 acres on Wannsee drive. There, they converted a truck garage into a 2 bedroom house and kitchen. And a few years later my dad began building "the big house" when the twins, Mike and Steve was born. That became was a 2 year project for Mom and Dad, and whatever my oldest brothers could help with on the house building project.

Of Course, all of us kids remember Mom and Dad's 1 acre which seem like 2 acre garden that we all got to help plant and take care of. And all the canning that we got to help mom and grandma with. Lots of corn chucking and bean snapping, Quite an experience for us kids and lots of fun. Some of the kids probably remember the first time they were allowed to run the rototiller. You have to wondered if mom and dad discussed when each of us were ready for such a task. Really great memories.

Our Mom always took care of us when we were sick. She was always there, not having a new coat or fancy clothes most of the time so she could take care of us. At times to make ends meet, my mom had worked part time. Early on in her life in the big city, she worked as a telephone operator, in Louisville, yes back when all callers were connected to their party by the operator plugging in a cord at the switch board, just like you see in the old movies. On the early part of life at Wannsee Drive where we all of us grew up she worked at the snack bar at the Preston Drive In movie theater. Mom later worked at the Card Post at Indian Trail Shopping Center where we all remember the huge neon Indian shooting his neon arrows as part of the shopping center sign. At the Card Post mom learned to make awesome beautiful flower arrangements, and very fancy gift wrapping among other skills. Techniques she shared with many of us.

When Dad died 1n 1974. Mom went to work into the workforce full time, with her eight grade education. First, at Woolco Department Store working in ladies wear. She started working on earning her GED in 1976, and eventually armed with more confidence, she changed jobs to become HR manager at H&S Hardware for the rest of her working career until she retired in 1992. The people at H&S Hardware really loved her, as evidence with such stories as the stock boy who made peanuts for income but still spent his hard-earned money buying her a bouquet in a very expensive crystal-like vase, that she treasured the rest of her life. In 1998, Mom finally completed her GED at the age of 68, an accomplishment she was so proud of, and rightfully so. We were proud of her too.

During the time of finishing raising her kids, and while working full time, mom joined the Louisville Hiking Club which took trips to hike all over the US. All the national parks and then some. We have no idea how many miles she hiked in total, but we know she had a good time, was a great mom, and we are so honored to have had her for our mom.

Arrangements are under the direction of Arch L. Heady & Son Funeral Home - Okolona Home, "Where Personal And Sincere Service Is Tradition.”