Linda Lee Miller

The daughter of Arthur (Art) and Elizabeth (Nell) Roark, Linda Lee Roark was born June 30, 1940, in Inglewood, California. She grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, and always looked back fondly on her childhood there. Linda married Bob Miller and they moved to California where they raised three children: Danny, Donna, and Debbie.

Her life revolved around her kids. She loved cheering for them from the stands as they played sports growing up – from softball and volleyball, to baseball and bowling. She even coached her daughters’ Pop Warner cheerleading team while Danny played football and basketball. Linda especially loved baseball, whether rooting for her favorite team – the California Angels – or watching Danny play shortstop. While her kids were young, Linda spent many weekends down at the William S. Hart baseball fields – her husband, Bob, coached and supported the teams, and Linda and the girls helped in the concession stand. Sports were a big part of their lives, as was 4-H and being involved in church activities.

Linda was a long-time active member of the Santa Clarita United Methodist Church. Linda loved her church and school community. She loved dolphins and the beach. She loved music. She loved family get togethers and barbeques, and her home was always open to friends and neighbors. She loved to travel. She loved to write letters and cards to loved ones. She loved card games, especially cribbage. She loved to laugh, and did so often.

Linda’s love of children was so great that in 1969, she co-founded Small World Preschool with her friend Audra Lebs in Saugus, California. She poured her heart and soul into the school every day until her retirement in 2016. Many years she was up at 3 a.m. on registration days handing out hot chocolate with the church pastor to keep families warm as they waited in long lines to sign up their children. She coordinated Family Days with food, petting zoos, magic acts, bounce houses, and more. She was very successful and often had wait lists for children to attend Small World. Linda never missed a beat, greeting every family with a warm smile and a joyful chuckle. She was in her element getting down to a child’s level, playing games and singing songs with the little ones. Her commitment to the children and the teachers made her decision to retire after 47 years a bittersweet one as the Small Word family was her family.

Now, after long last, Linda is reunited in heaven with her mother Nell and father Art, her husband Bob, her daughter Donna, her brother Bill, her grandson Chris, several dear friends, and a bunch of beloved dogs. She will be deeply missed by her son Danny and his wife Jayme, daughter Debbie and her partner Volly, granddaughter Nicole, grandsons Aaron and Robert (and grandsons’ mother Liz), great-granddaughter Elody, and countless people, family and friends, whose lives were touched by Linda’s love, kindness, and generosity. In lieu of flowers, Linda’s family is encouraging donations to Small World Preschool, a place that was always so dear to Linda’s heart.

If unable to attend The Celebration of Life, livestreaming is available on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/@santaclaritaumc6831