Marilyn Jane McNew Miller, a Shawnee, OK native, passed away on 1 March 2020 in Scottsdale, AZ. Jane as she was known, was the oldest daughter of George Horace McNew and Katherine Anna Grundmann McNew. Jane is survived by her husband, Gerald R. Miller of Scottsdale whom she married on 10 June 1961 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Shawnee with the Rev. Charles T. Knippel of Norman officiating. She is also survived by a son, Kenneston Miller (Tonie) of Colorado Springs, CO, a daughter, Andrea Winegar (Court) of Draper, UT, a sister, Linda Shults (Mike) of Mustang, OK and an aunt, Mrs. Ella Dockins of Oklahoma City.
Jane leaves seven grandchildren: Hannah Wadle (Joshua) and Matthew Miller in Colorado, Emily Hales (Kevin), Courtney Winegar, Katie Winegar and Nathan Winegar in Utah and Rachel Miller in Illinois. Also surviving are a nephew, nieces, and several cousins.
Jane’s early life centered about her grandfather’s farm east of Shawnee and the nearby Fairview country school until the 8th grade, after which she entered Shawnee High School, graduating in 1957. An accomplished artist, she entered The University of Oklahoma completing a BFA degree in 1960, after which she worked as a designer for Hallmark Cards in Kansas City. After her marriage in 1961, she moved to Ithaca, NY where she taught art at the Trumansburg Elementary School. Upon her husband’s finishing graduate studies at Cornell University, they moved to Salt Lake City in 1965 where, excepting a year living in Scotland, they lived with their son and daughter for 20 years. In 1971, she completed her MFA degree at the University of Utah, emphasizing prints and paintings. After a three year period in the Buffalo, NY area, she lived in Scottsdale, AZ for 32 years.
She traveled widely with her husband and emphasized learning the culture of and making friends in the countries she visited in Europe, the Far East and especially Brazil. She served as a docent in museums and was much admired as an instructor in reading for foreign visitors and immigrants.
Interment will be at the Resthaven Memorial park in Shawnee with private graveside services for the family.
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