Dolores "Dee" Miller

Dolores Miller (Dee) was a modest woman, quiet and observant in her ways. She was trustworthy and traditional in her approach to her life and in her relationships. She was tough-minded with the kind of “stick to it” attitude that earned the respect of all who knew her. She was also a woman who was meticulous, carefully disciplined, and orderly in virtually everything she undertook. Realistic about life, she was always at the ready, prepared to take on responsibility.

Her parents were Edwin and Margit Aber. Dee was raised in Jacksonville, Texas. She was brought up to be self-confident and dependable. These were traits that would serve her well throughout her life. She was raised with her younger brother, Walter. Growing up in the Aber household was a bit different than most homes. The daughter of an immigrant mother and merchant marine father, Dee’s upbringing was somewhat out of the ordinary. There were good times to be had, but just as often there was a fair share of challenges as well. However, Dee was able to work through the usual family problems when they appeared, and she was the one person in the family who seemed able to keep the stress at bay. While most children had cats and dogs as family pets, Dee and Walter had parrots and an ocelot! Because her father traveled the world, he brought back with him treasures from all over the world and peeked a natural curiosity in Dee that would propel her love of learning.

As a young child, Dee was never someone who needed to be the center of attention. She developed a variety of interests and discovered the joy of learning. She was always curious about the world around her and was often eager to explore it. This love of learning would continue throughout her life. Dee was a strong student and earned the distinct honor of being a member of Mensa at a very young age.

While her teachers and even her friends generally thought of Dee as a serious person, she managed to have a pretty good time in high school as she made that critical transition from adolescence to adulthood. She graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1944. She was a strong student, graduating at age 16. Dee was a very logical person who enjoyed learning about factual information. Using her exceptional memory, she was able to learn much through observation. She always seemed to have a command of the facts and was able to make it seem as though she could easily master any problem that might be presented to her.

College life brought with it a new set of challenges, but Dee handled them well. Being a critical thinker who always remained intellectually independent, she was able to focus on the task at hand in order to complete her class work. Dee was able to read the material and retain the information in a way that impressed her fellow classmates. The ability to efficiently complete the task at hand was a skill that served her well during her college experience. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from University of Houston. She also pursued graduate school, earning her Master's in Education. In addition to pursuing her master's degree, she raised three children and took care of her home while earning top honors.

Dee married William John “Bill” Miller in August, 1947. They raised three children; two daughters, Diane and Barbara, and a son, Bill. They were also blessed with five grandchildren, Kimberlee, Brian, Josh, Kelly and Matt.

Dee loved her life's work. She was an educator and counselor for the Pasadena Independent School District for over 40 years. She was a hard worker who expected the same in return from her co-workers and students. She was dedicated to her students and devoted herself not only to teaching and counseling, but serving as a mentor. One of her passions was helping at-risk and underprivileged children. Not only did she counsel her students but she was often called upon to counsel the other teachers, as well.

Dee liked to experience things first-hand as well as learn about them. This trait carried over into her hobbies, where she was very methodical in how she organized her activities and categorized things. She was an intensely private person who enjoyed her independence. Her favorite pursuits were gardening and couponing. She loved growing her own food and taking care of her family. Dee was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with great grandchildren, a source of tremendous joy for her. Because of being raised during the Great Depression and her family’s unusual background, Dee lived her life very frugally and practically.

Dee officially retired in 1993. She always trusted and placed value in what was logical and in the things she knew, so she was very confident in planning her retirement. She had begun the process early and had her retirement all laid out well in advance. Even after her retirement she was always at the ready when the school district needed her and helped out for many more years. When she truly retired she found new pleasure in taking care of her great-grand babies.

Dee Miller passed on July 4, 2016 at home in Pasadena, Texas of natural causes. She is survived by her children Diane, Barbara and Bill; her grandchildren Kimberlee, Brian, Josh, Kelly and Matt; and her great grandchildren Abigail, Emily, Donovan, Karley, Briley, and Ethan. Services were held at Grand View Funeral Home.

Commitment is a key word that can be used to describe the life of Dee Miller. She was committed to living the life of a woman who was both practical and trustworthy. She was committed to a life of learning and education, which she continued throughout her life. She committed herself to being a hard worker who expected the same effort in return from those around her. Most of all, she was committed to those she knew and loved.