Miriam Kyung Hwi Greer

Miriam Kyung Hwi Greer was born on March 10, 1977 in Portland, Oregon to Bo Hyun and Young Hee Lee. Her family helped found the Korean Mission Church of Oregon in Portland in 1981, where her father was the Pastor until his retirement in 2006. Growing up, she was a part of her Highschool Dance team and carried that love throughout her life. She graduated in 1995 from Milwaukee High School and attended the University of Oregon in Eugene.

Miriam met the love of her life, Matthew, in 1999, while working at Wells Fargo and they were married on September 1st, 2001 in Portland, Oregon. She moved to San Diego, California and lived there for four years after joining Matthew. She moved back to Portland in 2006 to be closer to family and friends, and to start the next chapter of her life, motherhood. She welcomed her beautiful son, Alexander San Lee, into the world on November 2nd, 2008 and her beautiful daughter, Riya Sem, on December 3rd, 2013. Miriam was a devoted, loving, strong, wonderful, selfless mother who loved her two children beyond words and more than could ever be known. It is these two that are her true legacy and gift to the world and it in them—and all who have known her—that she will live on.

During her long professional career, she worked primarily in the Insurance industry. She provided her world class talent, skills, and service while handling high profile account holders during her years with AIG Private Client Services in San Diego. Upon moving back to Portland in 2006 to start a family, she began her thirteen-year career with Liberty Mutual Insurance, Co. There she made lifelong friends, won awards—including the prestigious President’s Award in 2016--and devoted herself to helping others, as she always did, all the way until she became an Angel.

Miriam waged a five-plus year battle against Breast Cancer, being diagnosed thrice, enduring a double mastectomy, radiation, surgeries, and countless treatments. All the while, she never gave up hope, lost her sense of humor, stopped spreading joy, or showed her suffering while endlessly thinking of others. Her willingness to try frontline treatments and participate in numerous studies, regardless of her outcome, will help save other’s lives and will eventually help find an end to the scourge of cancer.

Miriam is survived by her loving husband Matt, her two gorgeous children, Alex and Riya, as well as, her mother, Young, and brother, Joshua. Miriam was a true giver and her love was the most precious of gifts. Miriam will be missed greatly, but never forgotten—for the world made but one Miriam and we are all better for it.