Lora Richard Miller

Lora R. Miller of Midland passed away Tuesday, November 14, 2017 in a local hospital. A memorial service is scheduled at 2:00 pm Tuesday, November 21, 2017 at Crestview Baptist Church. Burial will occur beside her husband and three preceding generations of the Miller family at Antioch Cemetery in Panola County, Texas.

Lora Belle Richard Miller was born on November 30, 1930 in the small town of Mermentau, Louisiana. She was the youngest of three daughters born to the union of Leodice “Doc” Richard (pronounced Ri’shard) and Oma Ruth Tynes Richard. She grew up in Mermentau where her parents ran a small family café. After a fire destroyed the business, her family struggled greatly through the years of The Great Depression and World War II. Lora was educated in the nearby town of Esterwood where she graduated from High School with the Class of 1948. Upon graduation she learned typing and the lost skill of taking shorthand before finding clerical work in the field of Title and Abstract in Lake Charles, Louisiana and later DeRidder, Louisiana. It was while working a temporary job in DeRidder that she met her future husband, Thurman Culver Miller, Jr.

Lora and T.C. were married on October 24, 1953 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. They made their home on a small farm in Beauregard Parish Louisiana where T.C. worked as a Plant Tester for the old Atlantic Refining Company, later Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO). Their only child, Phil, was born in 1960 before the family was transferred to Henderson, Louisiana in 1969. The family later moved to Carthage, Texas in 1973. Lora excelled at caring for her hard working husband and growing son. She faithfully prepared three meals each day, was a skilled seamstress, a spit shine housekeeper, and just an all-around exceptional homemaker for her family. She was a member of a ukulele band at her Carthage church called The Silver Strummers which traveled to perform in many places.

Lora lived out her Christian faith daily within the home and through her membership in local churches wherever she lived. She learned the power of intercessory prayer from her mother and was instrumental in the salvation experience of her son and others that she either taught or attended Sunday School classes with. A student of God’s Word, she read The Bible often and took the task of substitute teaching very seriously when asked to do so.

After the death of her husband in 2002, Lora moved to Midland in 2004 to be closer to her son and his family. She became a resident of The Village at Manor Park in 2005 and was a faithful member of Crestview Baptist Church until her passing. Lora enjoyed watching her grandchildren grow up and participate in football, basketball, and cheerleading at Midland Christian School. She enjoyed playing her piano but always minimized her talent when others complimented her.

Lora was preceded in death by her parents, her oldest sister Sue Richard Johnson Sanders, and her husband of 49 years T. C. Miller, Jr. She is survived by her middle sister Glynn Richard Smith of Montgomery, Texas; son Phil Miller of Odessa, Texas; grandchildren Richard (Ashley) Miller of Waco, Texas and Richelle (Eli) Rivas of Midland, Texas and their mother Susan Roberts Miller of Midland, Texas; great granddaughter Riley Sue Rivas; sisters-in-law Pauline Miller Schmitt of Fort Myers, Florida; Brooksie Miller Smith of Spring, Texas; and Jimmie Sue Miller Taylor of The Woodlands, Texas. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

The family wishes to acknowledge the friendly community of neighbors and staff at The Village at Manor Park for their interest and concern for Ms. Lora during her 12 years of residency. The professional and compassionate care received from Dr. P. K. Patel, Dr. Robert A. Vogel, the nurses and aides of Midland Memorial Hospital, and Hospice of Midland was extraordinary. Also acknowledged is the family of believers at Crestview Baptist Church, especially the angels of her Ephesian Women’s Sunday School class.

Honorary pall bearers are Rich Miller, Eli Rivas, Randy Friday, James Dumas, Art Dehlinger, and Reverend Gian Villatoro.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Crestview Baptist Church Building Fund or the Antioch Cemetery Association; c/o Marilyn Beatty, 2111 FM 2517, Carthage, Tx 75633.