Mary Martha (Rice) Miller

(Age 98)

Mary died peacefully Monday morning, December 18, 2017. Mary was born April 1, 1919 in Redding, California to Joe and Martha (Pierce) Rice. The family had a homestead near Millville south of Redding. It was a rustic setting on acreage where they raised sheep, milk cows, pigs and chickens. The family lived totally off what they produced. Mary and her brother Ray spent many summers as sheep herders on land near Mount Shasta. They slept in bedrolls and cooked over campfires. Mary would tell stories about fishing, building brush corrals for the sheep, snakes, lightning and bad weather, and their dogs working the sheep. Supplies would be replenished once a week. Mary attended Clover Creek Elementary School in Shasta county. It was a single room school with all grade levels represented. Here Mary credited a teacher for encouraging her to read which became a lifelong love. She attended and graduated from Shasta High School in Redding. She would recall the almost 3 mile walk from the ranch to where she caught a stagecoach operated by the post office which would take her to Redding for school. After graduation Mary took a cosmetology class and received certification from the California State Board of Cosmetology in 1940. She plied her trade in Weaverville, California where she lived and worked until World War II broke out. She began work at the Ammunition Depot in Herlong, California. She worked in igloos that looked like sand mounds. Here she met and eventually married Hugh Miller. They were married in Reno Nevada in January 1945. They moved to Spokane shortly after their marriage where Hugh's brothers and sisters were located. Mary and Hugh had two living children, Mary Ann and James. Hugh's work in construction would take him to various locations. Mary was a housewife taking care of the home and the kids. They lived in Copeland Park and in 1950 moved to their home in north Spokane. Hugh's family were quite close and Mary took part in their family activities. Mary was an avid sewer and made numerous outfits for family, weddings, proms and more. She loved to plant flowers and take care of them. She also loved bowling and golf with her friends. She was involved as a Pink Lady volunteer at a local hospital. Mary was a member of the Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church. She worked as a Deacon and an Elder. She taught Bible Study for over 20 years and she led a Prayer Group. Mary always believed more talking to God was needed in our society. Hugh died in 1991 after 46 years of marriage. For a few years Mary remained in the home. Later she went to Avalon Care Center. Mary suffered from dementia and a congestive heart condition that with time took its toll. Mary was survived by her daughter Mary Ann Anderson and husband Terry, son James Miller and wife Marcia, three granddaughters Tami Anderson, Amy Sullivan (Todd) and Annie Barron (Terry), and four great-grandchildren, Zach, Meghan, Emma and Tyler. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother and one infant son. Mary's family would like to thank Avalon Care Center and their staff for the wonderful care they provided. If you would like memorial donations can be made to Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church, 4449 N Nevada, Spokane, WA 99207 or Avalon Care Center, 9827 N Nevada, Spokane, WA 99218. A Memorial Service will be at 1:00PM on Thursday, December 21 at Ball & Dodd Funeral Home, 5100 W Wellesley, Spokane, WA 99205.