Grace Loretta (Cain) Miller

On January 28, 2016, our dear Lord called Grace (Cain) Miller home at the age of 88. She is preceded in death by her parents, Earl H. and Florence (Karl) Cain, one sister Florence (Cain) Less, and brothers Robert Cain and Edward Cain.

Grace loved Staten Island, thought it was the most wonderful place to grow up at and often reminisced about those years growing up a few blocks from the ocean, spending countless hours in the swimming in the ocean, ice skating and sledding in winter and playing in the Woods of Arden. It was a quiet place, composed of small towns connected only by the Staten Island Ferry to New York City. New York City was full of excitement! When war was declared in 1941 everything changed as this small almost sleepy island was quickly transformed into a lively seaport where soldiers, sailors and service personnel came from everywhere and were camped on the island as they waited to be shipped overseas. It was a very frightening time. Grace's two brothers enlisted and were quickly called to serve. Grace's father, at that time recently retired from the New York City Fire Dept., took the dangerous job of Fire Chief of an Ordinance Plant located at Roanoke Virginia where ammunition was manufactured for the ongoing war. It was a terrible shock when her family was notified of her father's death on July 11, 1942 at the young age of 49 yrs of age. The loss of her father caused many unpleasant circumstances including a lack of monetary support for a family of six, and then changes were forcefully occurred in her family life, too.

Grace's education all took place on Staten Island with eighth grade graduation from P.S. 42 in 1941; High School graduation at Tottenville High School in 1945. After graduation, her first real full time job was with AT&T, Treasury Dept. in New York City. Lengthy and time consuming transportation started each morning with a train trip from Tottenville (on the Island's South Shore) to St. George (on the Island's North Shore); followed by a trip on the [famous] Staten Island Ferry boat to New York City; with the trip climaxing with either a subway or bus ride to begin the last leg of her of her transportation to work. In the evenings, the reverse transportation was used to return home. The total trip approximately 2 hours each way, however, she was grateful for the opportunity to earn a living and help her mother and family out at home, at this time.

Nineteen-year-old Grace met Roy Miller on Labor Day Weekend in 1946 when her friend, a regular volunteer at a U.S. serviceman's club, invited her to come with her to the club one evening. It was the first and only time Grace had ever been there. It appears their meeting was meant to be. Their friendship developed into a close relationship throughout the year as Roy's ship, a troop carrier, sailed in and out of Staten Island, to and from ports in Europe, North Africa, the Caribbean and Panama Canal. Grace and Roy married a year later on September 20, 1947 in Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Tottenville, Staten Island, New York.

It was a difficult decision for Grace to leave her home and family but they decided to begin their new lives together in Austin Texas which at that time was a small city compared to today. Job offerings were few and far in between so after a short time and no luck they decided to go on to Fort Worth where jobs and housing were also scarce due to this being so soon after the war. They were thankful to find a one room efficiency that met their needs and were thankful to each find jobs. Grace was hired as an office clerk with the American Standard Life Insurance Company and Roy a sales debit agent with Washington National Insurance Company. Their two children, Christine Ann and Donald Roy were both born in Ft. Worth, TX.

Grace and Roy were of different religious denominations so they tried to accommodate each other's faith by alternating churches each Sunday. Later on they decided it would be less confusing for their family if they worshiped together within one church denomination. It was hard for Grace to make the change; however, she converted to Lutheran at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Ft. Worth Texas in April 1954.

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A move back to Austin in 1962 was precipitated by Roy's promotion [at Washington National] to District Manager of the Austin District Office. Grace began working at the Austin IRS District office in 1965 then moved to the IRS Service Center where she retired in 1986.

Grace always said, "We have been blessed with a wonderful family and long life together". She especially enjoyed traveling, cruising, camping, water sports and any activity the family could participate in together. The grandchildren were very special to her. [Roy, Grace went on so many cruises in their lifetime, they lost count!]

Grace is deeply missed by her husband of 88 years, Roy Miller; by daughter Christine (Miller) Dixon; by son, Donald Roy Miller and his wife Jane (Rose) Miller; by one grandson, Shane Dixon and his wife Elizabeth of Corpus Christi; two granddaughters, Sarah and Emily Miller; two great grandchildren, Julian Miller and Lucille "Lucy" Dixon. Burial will be in the Live Oak Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church or any favorite charity of your choice.