Bernice Leona Miller

Bernice Leona Miller (Bunny), born April 22, 1924 in Cambridge and grew up in Wakefield, Mass. She came to Sarasota with a friend for the winter, in 1946, they had heard about Sarasota because the Boston Red Socks were here. She met Mel Miller, who had just arrived with the Ringling Circus, and stayed. They spent their honeymoon traveling with the Wallenda Brothers Circus and later spent two years with the Daily Brothers Circus. She worked at the Sport Shop downtown and later had a shop on St. Armand’s with Rosemary Bowden, called the Carousel Toys and Children’s wear. She worked with Sophie Hodge and Kitty Emerson at Mark Fore and Strike, also with Cecilia Wellins, all on St. Armand's. She volunteered at the Ringling Museum after she retired. She sewed beautifully and made dresses for shops in St. Armands and on Palm Avenue. She sewed for Clown Alley at Clown College in 1969. She was predeceased by her parents Eunice Westin Ketchum Brown and Herbert Ketchum and step father Ernest Brown. She leaves one daughter, Heidi, and son-in-law Paul Taylor, Great-granddaughter Kelly Ann Thornton and her parents Debbie and Lance Thornton, her caring family in the Garden at the Pines of Sarasota, Cousins Jack and Mark Westin of Caribou Maine, and Paul Westin of Augusta Maine. Cremation services by Wiegand Brothers Funeral Home. A memorial requiem service will be Friday August 5 at 11:00 am Church of the Redeemer, Sarasota. Memorial donations may be given to the Church of the Redeemer, where she was a member for many years, to the Pines of Sarasota for the music programs at the Garden, or Circus Sarasota for their Laughter Unlimited program, which brings great joy to those at Nursing homes. Guest book located at wiegandbrothers.com.