1909
Fern
2012
Fern Olivia Miller
March 17, 1909 — July 5, 2012
FERN OLIVIA MORRISS MILLER, age 103, of Amarillo, died July 4, 2012.
Funeral Services will be held 10:00 AM Saturday, July 7, 2012 at Polk Street United Methodist Church with Dr. Burt Palmer officiating. Burial will be at Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 South Georgia.
Fern was born on March 17, 1909 in Texarkana to Mr. & Mrs. John Ewell Morriss, Jr. She came to Amarillo for her 2nd and 3rd years of high school, where she met Carl Wesley Miller who was a cadet at College Station, Texas (A&M). She also attended school in Texarkana and Cleveland OH.
Fern and Carl where married August 29, 1929. They moved to Amarillo and shortly after
bought a home in Oliver Eckle addition where she has lived since. She and Carl were very active in Polk Street Methodist Church. She was President of the Women's Society of Christian Service. She and Carl both served on building addition committees at the church. She later served on the Official Board to the present time.
Fern helped organize the local chapter of Camp Fire Girls and served as temporary
director until an association could be formed. She received the highest national symbol
of recognition for outstanding service from that organization.
Assisted by Dr. Evelyn Powers, she organized the Palo Duro Chapter of the Daughters of
the Republic of Texas, having recently received a notice of membership for 53 years.
She served at Wesley Community Center until a director could be found.
Family history became a hobby. She went with a group from the library to Salt Lake City
for a week. She also used the Newbury Library in Chicago for her research.
During these years, the whole family moved to Red River, New Mexico, for the summers.
A log cabin was built in 1941 and later Carl built a slab cabin for guests. Having
friends around them was their delight.
Fern found great joy in her memberships including The Delphian Society from 1942-1957, Camp Fire Girls, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Les Temps Study Club, Wesley Community Center Board of Directors for 3 years and Member of the Official Board of PSUMC.
She was preceded in death in 1979 by Carl, her husband of 50 years, one daughter, Marilyn Miller Thomas in October, 2011, and her parents, and two sisters, Ruth Starke and Gleaves Jacobsen.
Fern is survived by her daughter, Jeanette “Boo” Miller of Santa Fe, NM; Grandchildren, Christopher Thomas, Carl Thomas, Mike and Ann Thomas and Ken and Carrie Wilhelm; Great Grandchildren, Jessica Thomas and Angela Smith, Matt, Drew and Monica Thomas, Emma and Bryan Wilhelm; Nieces and Nephews, Dorothy Ward, Jake and Jenny Jacobsen, Bernice Starke, John and Judy Miller, Jackie Armstrong, Bob and Joan McCasland, Linda McCasland, Stan and Mona Martin and Vince and Jan Martin.
The family suggests memorials be made to Polk Street United Methodist Church, Permanent Endowment Fund, 1401 S. Polk Street, Amarillo, TX 79101.
Funeral Services will be held 10:00 AM Saturday, July 7, 2012 at Polk Street United Methodist Church with Dr. Burt Palmer officiating. Burial will be at Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 South Georgia.
Fern was born on March 17, 1909 in Texarkana to Mr. & Mrs. John Ewell Morriss, Jr. She came to Amarillo for her 2nd and 3rd years of high school, where she met Carl Wesley Miller who was a cadet at College Station, Texas (A&M). She also attended school in Texarkana and Cleveland OH.
Fern and Carl where married August 29, 1929. They moved to Amarillo and shortly after
bought a home in Oliver Eckle addition where she has lived since. She and Carl were very active in Polk Street Methodist Church. She was President of the Women's Society of Christian Service. She and Carl both served on building addition committees at the church. She later served on the Official Board to the present time.
Fern helped organize the local chapter of Camp Fire Girls and served as temporary
director until an association could be formed. She received the highest national symbol
of recognition for outstanding service from that organization.
Assisted by Dr. Evelyn Powers, she organized the Palo Duro Chapter of the Daughters of
the Republic of Texas, having recently received a notice of membership for 53 years.
She served at Wesley Community Center until a director could be found.
Family history became a hobby. She went with a group from the library to Salt Lake City
for a week. She also used the Newbury Library in Chicago for her research.
During these years, the whole family moved to Red River, New Mexico, for the summers.
A log cabin was built in 1941 and later Carl built a slab cabin for guests. Having
friends around them was their delight.
Fern found great joy in her memberships including The Delphian Society from 1942-1957, Camp Fire Girls, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Les Temps Study Club, Wesley Community Center Board of Directors for 3 years and Member of the Official Board of PSUMC.
She was preceded in death in 1979 by Carl, her husband of 50 years, one daughter, Marilyn Miller Thomas in October, 2011, and her parents, and two sisters, Ruth Starke and Gleaves Jacobsen.
Fern is survived by her daughter, Jeanette “Boo” Miller of Santa Fe, NM; Grandchildren, Christopher Thomas, Carl Thomas, Mike and Ann Thomas and Ken and Carrie Wilhelm; Great Grandchildren, Jessica Thomas and Angela Smith, Matt, Drew and Monica Thomas, Emma and Bryan Wilhelm; Nieces and Nephews, Dorothy Ward, Jake and Jenny Jacobsen, Bernice Starke, John and Judy Miller, Jackie Armstrong, Bob and Joan McCasland, Linda McCasland, Stan and Mona Martin and Vince and Jan Martin.
The family suggests memorials be made to Polk Street United Methodist Church, Permanent Endowment Fund, 1401 S. Polk Street, Amarillo, TX 79101.
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