Edna Marie Miller

Edna Marie (Porter) Miller joined her 5 sisters in Heaven on Tuesday, November 26, 2019. She passed away at CenterPoint Medical Center in Independence, MO with her loving daughter and son-in-law by her side.

She was born April 26, 1918 to Edward and Margaret (Waters) Porter in Kansas City, MO. She was an avid runner in her high school days, having taken second place in a Greater Kansas City race. She liked playing tennis as well; she was a very active person all her life. She attended St. Stephens Catholic Elementary School and graduated from Northeast High School, both in Kansas City.

While she was working at Montgomery Ward, she met Ralph W. Miller. They were married on April 14, 1939 in Kansas City, MO. Her husband never wanted her to work outside the home, so she was able to devote her time to raising their 3 children. They were married 63 years when he passed away in 2002.

She loved bowling as was able to participate in tournaments all over the United States. Her highest score was in a National Tournament in San Diego when she bowled a 258 on her grandson, Jon's birthday. She also bowled in all the state and city tournaments she could. She was member of the Board of the Women's Bowling Association in Kansas City, MO for a while. In later years she became very interested in golf and played as often as she could.

After her children were grown and out of the house, she became involved with the women's part of the Optimist Club, in Raytown, that her husband belonged to, helping in fundraising for worthy causes.

She and her husband took many trips around the country. They both loved traveling, even buying a small camper to go to Texas where her sisters had winter homes. After her husband's passing, she was able to travel internationally to see the two countries she always wanted to visit... Ireland and Rome, Italy.

Never one to sit still for very long, Edna decided to volunteer at the Medical Center of Independence, helping with patient care. She did this for 15 years and enjoyed every minute of it. She was a regular blood donor and was proud of the fact that it never bothered her to give. In her later years, she began walking, picking up cans, turning the money from them as well as money she found while walking and giving it to her church.

She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Independence for many years. She always tried to be of service where she was needed and had a very compassionate heart. She was devoted and proud of her family and was instrumental in starting Porter/Harrison Family Reunions, which have been held every year for 41 years. She was never happier than when she was with her family.

Edna was a lifelong fan of the Kansas City Royals and never missed watching or listening to every single game. She and her husband would go to the games when they were the KC Blues. During the summer, she lived for the Royals games.

Five years after her husbands passing, she moved in with her daughter, Judy and son-in-law, Jerry, and lived an active life for 12 and a half years, until her passing. She enjoyed going to the American Legion to play Bingo with her daughter and working on crossword puzzles, word search and jigsaw puzzles, to keep her mind sharp. Edna loved gambling and usually won her money back when her daughter would take her to the casinos.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph; one son James Miller; her five sisters, Kathleen, Elizabeth, Frances, Doris and Alice, as well as her parents and grandparents.

Her survivors include her remaining children Judith Kennedy (Jerome); and John Miller (Susan); grandchildren Jana Grika (John), Jon Kennedy (Lisa), Jeffrey Kennedy (Dana), Joy Kennedy, James Kennedy (Jennifer), Michele Berger (Joseph), Sheri Berry (Chris), Angela Cain (Richard), Kelly Hartley (Paul), Stephen Miller (Brenda); great grandchildren Matthew (Jennifer), Danielle (Jonathan), Jameson, Savanna, Megan, Andrew, Justin, Jacob, Christopher, Stephen, Nicholas, Hannah, Emilee, Rachael, Courtney, Lauren, McKenzie, Hayden, Neve, Deacon; great, great grandchildren Henry, Lillian, Cain, Oakley, Atlas, Caylynn, Cameron, Ryleigh, and Addison. She had numerous nieces and nephews, as well and friends during her 101 years that she cherished. She was ready to leave after a very full and satisfying life.