Pamela Jane Miller

On November 4, 2022, shortly after her 71st birthday, Pamela Jane (Pam) Miller passed away peacefully in her sleep at home in Austin, Texas.

Pam was born on October 22, 1951 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. She was the second of two children of Mary Jane Oliver Barr and Richard Stuart Barr, Sr. She was little sister to Richard Stuart Barr, Jr. During her childhood Pam lived in Cheyenne, Detroit, Washington D.C., and Chicago as her father’s responsibilities with International Harvester took his family around the country. She spoke fondly of her home in Palatine, Illinois where she graduated from Fremd High School in the class of 1969.

Pam enrolled at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana to continue her education. She joined Alpha Gamma Delta sorority where she lived for three years with her sisters. She also served on the Panhellenic Council as well as joining Angel Flight, a service organization. Pam was a dedicated student at Purdue, and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelors degree in Home Economics for Fashion Retailing.

While at Purdue she met Tom Miller, another Purdue student. They fell in love, and were inseparable during their last 2 years at Purdue. Pam and Tom were engaged to be married during the final semester. After graduation Pam returned to her parent’s home in Salisbury, Maryland to plan the wedding while Tom reported to his new job in Houston, Texas. They kept in touch by writing letters to each other almost every day, but their separation that summer felt like the longest 3 months of their lives! They were reunited and married in Salisbury, Maryland on August 11, 1973.

Pam lived in Houston a very short time while Tom finished training. Soon they moved to the Chicago area where Pam got busy using her Purdue education by accepting a position with Marshall Fields in downtown Chicago. Later, she managed women’s apparel for Charles A Stevens in the Chicago suburbs.

It was in the Chicago area when Pam followed her mother’s footsteps by joining a PEO Chapter. PEO, a philanthropic organization supporting women’s advancement and educational opportunities, was to become a very important part of Pam’s life. She joined a PEO Chapter in every other town she lived for the rest of her life while building many cherished relationships!

After 6 years in the Chicago area, a job transfer took Pam and Tom to Austin, Texas in 1979. Pam, a city girl, envisioned Austin as cowboys, longhorns, and sagebrush blowing across the prairie! Upon arrival she discovered a beautiful and friendly small town that she grew to love very quickly. Pam and Tom welcomed two children into the world in Austin. Stephen was the first and Betsy two years later. Pam loved being a mom, and made many new friends while raising the children.

11 years in Austin flew by and in 1991 Pam moved to Temple, Texas when Texas Instruments transferred Tom again. What a great place Temple was to raise children! Pam immersed herself in the school system with the kids, worked in the church book store, and together with Tom enjoyed watching the kids as they enjoyed school activities and sports.

4 years later another job transfer moved Pam and Tom to McKinney, Texas. Not far from Dallas, in 1995 McKinney was a quaint little town that was getting ready to grow! There she shuttled Stephen and Betsy all over town for their school projects and expanding sporting interests. Pam was focused on preparing Stephen and Betsy for life and to know that God had a plan for them. Soon Stephen enrolled at the University of Oklahoma and Betsy at Purdue University. Pam and Tom were so proud of them!

Pam also ventured into new areas as the kids become more independent. Always skilled in math; she decided to enroll in night classes at the University of Dallas in pursuit of a teaching certificate in mathematics. After graduation she taught math in McKinney schools, but discovered that her real passion was tutoring one-on-one with high school students.

In 2002, Tom accepted a job with a company in Austin, and they were able to move back to their favorite city in Texas. Pam reconnected with friends from the past, and continued math tutoring with Lake Travis students. Pam also stepped up her involvement with PEO more than ever by serving as Chapter President and on scholarship projects. She loved her PEO sisters!

Pam also joined Community Bible Study (CBS) in Lakeway, Texas which would become another passion for her. Pam already had a strong faith in God, and CBS enabled her to develop and grow her Christian faith to a whole new level! She loved leading a core group each year, and the relationships she built in CBS were among her most cherished. Pam and Tom were also members of Christ Church; an inspiring Anglican community in downtown Austin.

During this phase of their life together Pam and Tom were blessed to take trips to explore the world often accompanied by family or friends. She especially loved the trips with the grandchildren along. Watching them experience new things created such great memories!

In summer of 2019 Pam encountered her second challenge with cancer. She had beaten the first one in 1991, and she faced the challenge once again with courage and always a positive attitude! Pam was at peace in the belief that she was in God’s hands. We look back and remember Pam as a kind, loving person with a caring heart. She was an inspiration to many, and lived a joyful life!

Preceding her in death was her mother Mary Jane Barr.

She is survived by her father: Richard S. Barr Sr. of Salisbury, Maryland who will celebrate his 99th birthday this month; her husband Thomas J. Miller of Austin, Texas; her son Stephen and wife Rebecca Miller of Dallas, Texas with children Wyatt and Ellie Miller; her daughter Elizabeth Jane Hodges of Austin, Texas with her son Gavin Hodges; and her brother Richard S. “Stu” Barr Jr. and wife Kathleen of Fort, Meyers, Florida and Salisbury, Maryland. She also leaves nieces and nephews who along with their children have always had a special place in her heart. The family would also like to thank her doctors and nurses at Texas Oncology and MD Anderson who treated her during her three and a half year battle with cancer as well as Hospice Austin who helped comfort her at home during the final two weeks.

A memorial service will be celebrated at the Weed Corley Fish (Parkcrest) funeral home on Friday, December 9th, 2022 at 1pm. It is located at 5416 Parkcrest Drive, Austin, Texas 78731.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the cancer research organization of your choice.