Andrea K. Miller

Andrea (Ann) Miller, 76, passed away on December 24, 2015 in Longview, Washington. Born in West Virginia to Harry and Kathrine Bennett, they moved to Washington State in 1943, where Harry worked as an electrician at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and Kathrine as a nurse at Richland's Cadillac Hospital. In high school, Ann excelled in ballet and turned down an opportunity to dance with the Robert Joffery Ballet Company in New York to attend Washington State University, where she earned a B.Sc. degree in Home Ec. Education. While at WSU, she met the love of her life, Gerald (Jerry) Miller, a young man majoring in Mining Engineering from Wenatchee. They met during a church service their freshman year and were married in the same church prior to their senior year in 1961. Upon graduation in 1962, Ann and Jerry moved to Long Beach, Calif., where Jerry accepted a position as an engineer for the City of Los Angeles and Ann taught dance and Home Ec. at David Star Jordan High School in Watts. With the birth of their first son (Hugh) and pregnant with their second son (Bret), the young couple decided to move back to the northwest in 1965 to raise their family. Jerry accepted a position with the Boeing Aircraft Co. in Seattle and Ann began teaching at Kent-Meridian High School in Kent. After several years, Ann transferred to nearby Sequoia Junior High, where she taught until her retirment in 1996. Ann loved teaching and positively influenced the lives of generations of students. Beyond teaching, Ann enjoyed spending time with family and friends that included travel, boating, skiing, fishing, dog sledding, and rock-hounding, as well as a small family farm they built in Maple Valley. As a Mother, she spent countless hours in bleachers trying to hold it together while cheering on her sons in a wide range of athletic events. She was also very active in church, Boy Scouts, and numerous student activities, including serving as a host for several foreign exchange students. As a consequence of their love and support, the Miller household became a regular hangout for their sons' friends that extended well after they both left for college.

In 1997, Ann and Jerry moved to a home they built along the Columbia River on Puget Island near Cathlamet, Washington and quickly formed close friendships with many in the community. Ann became very active in Our Saviour's Lutheran Church and the local chapter and state affiliate of the Daughters of the American Revolution. From their home base in Cathlamet, Ann and Jerry traveled from the Antarctic to the Arctic, and everywhere in between. With their motorhome, they enjoyed taking adventures with close friends, where they made frequent trips to Alaska, Canada, and throughout the western U.S. exploring old mine sites and collecting mineral speciments.

As devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, Ann is probably best known for her unconditional love and support. Ann is survived by her husband and life-long partner, Jerry; her sons, Hugh and Bret Miller; sisters Elizabeth Sroufe and Mary Sams; brothers-in-law Denzil Miller, Tom Sroufe and Mike Sams; four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and close friends. A celebration of Ann's life will be held at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church on Saturday, January 2, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Ann's memory to a charity of choice. Dowling Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

- Paid Obituary -