Norma Jean Miller

MILLER, Norma Jean, 79, passed away on January 29, 2022 after a long battle with multiple illnesses. Norma was born in Dover, Ohio on November 21, 1942, ten minutes after her twin sister, Nelda Tipton. She is survived by three sisters, Ruth Long, Nelda Tipton and Judith Kinnaman; four children, Deborah Briesacher (Larry), Kathryn Gomez (Albert passed away in 2020), Sherri Lucero (Leroy), and Jimmie R. Miller, Jr. (Heather); 13 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband of 60+ years, Jimmie Ray Miller, Sr., her parents Lloyd and Lena Shearrow, brothers Henry Shearrow and Samuel Shearrow.

Norma attended school at Central Elementary School in Ohio for 1st through 3rd grades. Then the family moved to Arizona where she attended Longfellow Elementary School for 4th grade (while the family lived in a trailer park in a converted school bus). Subsequently, the family purchased a small house and she attended Riverside Elementary School for 5th through 8th grades, followed by freshman year at Phoenix Union High School until building of Carl Hayden High School was completed and she finished sophomore through senior years there. Within the month of graduating from high school, she married the love of her life, Jim Miller.

Norma was a go-getter with multiple interests and a variety of jobs. She worked at Motorola Semiconductor Plant at two different times, receiving recognition for her service and contributions. She was engulfed in a “bunny suit” at Motorola to maintain 100% sterilization. She worked as an income tax preparer, was the #2 Nationwide Fuller Brush Sales Manager, she collected census data for the federal government, her family made hunting arrows for a local store and she maintained her own business, Quilter’s Paradise, for 20 years as a hardworking, skillful and creative quilter until health issues forced her to stop.

Norma also received a Certificate of Completion from Phoenix College for Sign Language Communication: Pre-Employment. While working at Motorola, she simultaneously received an Associate of Applied Science Degree for Electromechanical Process Technology from Mesa Community College with a 4.0 GPA and a Bachelor of Arts cum laude from Western International University with a 3.76 GPA!! Impressive!!

Norma dealt with many serious health issues in her lifetime including incurable, life-threatening lupus when her children were in grade school. She spent 10 years with debilitating pain, being misdiagnosed and finally diagnosed to be totally and permanently disabled with lupus. During those years she spent a lot of time reading her Bible and memorizing scriptures, building her faith until she absolutely knew God would heal her. Some significant scriptures are 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (give thanks in all things), Isaiah 40:31 (they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength) and Acts 12:7 (rise up quickly). It was on May 16, 1979 during a revival at Faith Assembly of God church with Evangelist William Caldwell that Acts 12:7 ministered to her and she rose up quickly and received complete and permanent healing from lupus!! PRAISE THE LORD!! HALLELUJAH!!

Of all her experiences and accomplishments in life, the greatest, most powerful and lasting accomplishment is raising her family in the love and admonition of the Lord!! That invaluable legacy will live on for generations to come!! Well done thou good and faithful servant!!

A Visitation will be held on Friday, February 11, 2022 from 6pm - 8pm at Phoenix Memorial Park and Mortuary, 200 W Beardsley Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85027. The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday February 12, 2022 at 11am followed by a Graveside Service at Phoenix Memorial Park.