Mary Fern Miller

Mary Fern Miller (née Nelson) died peacefully in Smithfield, NC on March 15, 2015 at the age of 97. Fern resided with her daughter, Dr. Karen Miller Anderson & her Son-in-law, Edward L. Anderson, II Esq. from 1998 until her death. She also lived in Brooklyn, NY and Nashville, TN. Fern was a native of Dayton, Ohio.

Fern is survived by her children: Sharalyn Dickinson (Kirk), Denise Billimoria (Rohinton), Carole Runyon (Gary), Dr. Karen Miller Anderson (Edward); her grandchildren: Connie Hargrave Soucy (by Sharalyn), Larry Kitchen Jr., Angela Showalter, Farah Davis and Kassi Billimoria (by Denise) and Nolan Thomas Smock (by Karen); her great grandchildren: Dylan Jonas, Michael Soucy, Demi McGraw (Brian), Megan Soucy, Devon Mihalovich (by Connie) and Anthony Showalter and Laura Figueroa (Angela), Charlie Davis and

John Davis (Farah); and her great-great grandchildren, Ryder McGraw (Demi) and Neiko Figueroa (Laura).

She is preceded in death by her parents: David & Cordelia Nelson, of Dayton, Ohio, her brother Wesley Norval Nelson, and her husband Clarence H. Miller. She was also preceded in death by three of her children: Sharon Lee Haley, James Wesly Haley, Caroline May Miller, and her grandson, James Karras.

Fern was born on June 24, 1917, in Dayton, Ohio, to David & Cordelia Nelson. She graduated from Stivers High School and later took secretarial courses at Patterson.

Fern was an accomplished pianist and singer and delighted in the family gathering around the piano to sing. To all of her grandchildren and those that knew her, she was their “Nana.” She was a witty individual who loved to read and play cards. Her favorite card game was Uker. She was a member of the Eintracht Singing Society in Dayton, Ohio, and often volunteered for the American Heart Association. She was a 30-year member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Anna Smith Strong Chapter, Setauket, New York.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. Until 7:00 p.m. on March 20, 2015, and her funeral is scheduled for 10:00 a.m on March, 21, 2015, both at Tobias Funeral Home – Belmont Chapel, 648 Watervliet Ave. followed by interment at Woodland Cemetery, Dayton Ohio. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Community & Senior Services of Johnston County, Inc. a non-profit organization at: 1363 West Market Street, Smithfield, NC 27577.

The family would like to thank Community & Senior Services of Johnston County, Action Health Staffing, and all of her healthcare professionals for their dedication.