Floy Minor Miller

Died peacefully on June 16, 2014, at 96 years old, after a long and rewarding life. She was born May 22, 1918 to Dr. Joe Minor (DDS) and Marilee Smith Minor in Nashville, TN.

She graduated Cum Laude in Mathematics from Vanderbilt University, where she was a member of Mortar Board and Tri Delta Sorority, and later received an MS from University of Pittsburgh, and a Masters of Education from Florida State University. She inspired many Tallahassee students at Kate Sullivan Elementary School and Maclay School with her enthusiastic hands-on approach to learning.

Floy joined the Navy in 1942, becoming a LTJG in the first class of women recruited to become Navy WAVES. While stationed at the Naval Air Station in New Orleans, LA., she met a charming Navy pilot, Kenneth Dayton Miller whom she married in 1944. Throughout their life, she reveled in their life with FSU, and their many travels to Mexico, Egypt, Greece, and Asia, always appreciating and embracing the new and different ways of the world. She lived with an inquiring mind and a twinkle in her eye, always surrounded by books, music, and many valued friends. She was spirited, authentic, smart, accepting, and goofy all at once, a combo that will be missed.

She has belonged to St John’s Episcopal Church since 1948, where she was a member of the Altar Guild and contributed her considerable needlework skills to the embroidery and care of church linens and kneeling pads. She was a member of the Tallahassee Literary Club, which has been in existence since 1899.

But perhaps she is best remembered for her piano playing, entertaining friends, family and strangers throughout her life, wherever she went, whenever she was asked, to the profound delight of all in proximity.

Floy is survived by her children, Ken Miller (Virginia) of Warne, NC. and Dabney Philabaum (Tom) of Tucson, AZ. Her third child, Craig, predeceased her in 1973. She is survived by her grandchildren, Ian Philabaum of Tucson, AZ., Aubyn Philabaum of Los Angeles, CA, Major Dewey Miller (Sujin) of Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, and Clayton Miller of Millbridge, ME., sister-in-law Amelia Minor (Dick) of Nashville, TN, nephew Richard Minor (Jan) of Duluth, GA, niece Linda Robinson (Rodney) and many cousins including Dr. Gill Minor (Pamela) of Wilmington, NC, and Beverly Kretchmar (Lauren) of Muskegon, MI.

A funeral service will be held at St John’s Episcopal Church on July 8, at 3 pm.Arrangements under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.