Meredith Miller

Mary Joyce Miller, known by her friends as Meredith, went peacefully to her rest surrounded by her loving family at home in the evening January 1, 2013. She was born October 4, 1926, in Little Rock, Arkansas.

She was the only child and darling of Rosamond Dietz and John Maxwell Sloan.

Mary's father died when she was 10 years old. She and her mother moved to Lake Charles from Jacksonville, Texas, to be near her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Dietz. When she arrived from East Texas, she joined Miss Jessie Mae Clements' fourth-grade class at Central School where she was seated across the aisle from her husband-to-be, Joe Tommy Miller. In high school, Mary Joyce was the American flag bearer of the Kilties marching squad. After graduating from Lake Charles High, she went on to have a truly remarkable life. She married her sweetheart, Joe Tommy, on October 20, 1945.

She and Joe worked nights and weekends to build their first home. After the family grew to four little girls, the family moved to the corner of Jefferson and Contour. Their family grew to include one more daughter and two sons. She participated in her children's Camp Fire, Cub Scouts, PTA, Sunday School and ballet lessons.

Mary Joyce enjoyed a large circle of friends through membership in various organizations. She was a lifelong member of First Methodist Church, where she and Joe were members of the Builders' Sunday School Class along with all their very closest friends. Many of their friends played bridge together, reared their families together, found Christian love and fellowship for over 60 years. Her many interests included membership in the Review Club, PEO, Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and M M Embroidery Club, a ladies' organization of which her grandmother and great-grandmother were charter members. She served as a board member of the Literacy Council. She loved traveling and reading. She also enjoyed china painting and needlework until she had to give them up due to her arthritic fingers. She enjoyed meeting people and visiting with them and was known for her working the room.

Before the advent of the computer, she spent over 25 years researching family history, pouring over original documents and corresponding with relatives. She and Joe traveled to many places all over the country to visit state archives, cemeteries and long lost relatives. Her interest in historic preservation led to her having the Bilbo Cemetery restored, for which she was awarded honors from the Louisiana State Preservation Society.

Left to cherish her memory are her much beloved husband, Joe Tommy Miller and their 7 children, 25 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Daddy's honey, she was our Mother Superior, Grammy, to her grandchildren. Her children and grandchildren follow: Suzanne and Ted Stewart of Austin and their children, Kade (Alli), Jamison, Sloan (Brad) and Hunter (Megan); Marylyn and Loyd Daniel of Baton Rouge and their children, Christopher, Catherine and Miller; Margaret and Joe Sims of Tampa and their children, Jason (Natalie), Jeremy, Jordan (Danielle), and Josh; Joanne and Leonard Tubbs of Spring,Texas, and their children Jack, Laura, Patrick (Sarah), Rob and Lanie; Barbie and Doug Bugner of Romayor, Texas and their children Max, Grant and Claire; Joe and Julie Miller of Lake Charles and their children, Dietz, Grayson and Rosie; John and Celene Miller of Baton Rouge and their children, Cameron, McKenzie and Isabella.

A memorial service honoring the life of Mary Joyce will be held at the First United Methodist Church, Friday, January 4 at 4:00. Visitation will be held prior thereto from 2:00-4:00, Friday, January 4 with a service following at 4:00, officiated by their dear friend, Reverend Weldon Bares.

The family has requested that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church of Lake Charles.