Geraldine Virginia Miller

Our mom, Geraldine (Gerry) Virginia (Brixner) Miller finished her earthly journey and passed into Heaven July 17, at the age of 94.

She was born in Maxwelton, Wash. on April 18, 1921 to Myron and Julia (Mackie) Brixner, the second of three children, and only daughter.

Gerry spent her childhood growing up in the beach community of Maxwelton, surrounded by beauty and the love and attention of a large extended family including her grandparents, Peter and Ada Mackie.

When she was nine, her father tragically passed away, and her life changed overnight. Her mom went to work, and Gerry became the caregiver of her 9-month-old baby brother, Lauren. She learned how to start dinner and manage the household when her mom was away.

Although mom attended school in Langley from childhood on, she moved to Manson, Wash. in her senior year of high school. She graduated from Brewster High School in 1938.

It was in Manson that mom met our father, Charles Miller, during a season they both worked at Manson Fruit Packing shed. Until the end of his life, dad could tell anyone what mom was wearing the first time he saw her. He reportedly told a friend at that time, “There is the gal I am going to marry.” They were married in the Little Brown Church in Maxwelton Jan. 31, 1942, a beautiful marriage that lasted until dad’s death in 2003.

Mom was preceded in death by her husband, Charles; parents, Myron and Julia; stepfather, Raymond Cross; her beloved younger brother, Lauren, who drowned at the age of 17; and in 2010, her oldest brother, Myron Brixner.

Happy times for mom involved traveling across the United States, including Alaska, with dad. They upgraded their trailer frequently, and enjoyed exploring the country, often traveling with friends. In later years, Arizona was a sunny home during the winter.

Mom was known best for her cooking. Her pies were legendary. Her gravy was so good grandchildren were known to say they wished they could drink it from a glass. She canned everything from fish to cherries. When mom and dad got a freezer, summer harvests involved blanching, bagging and using the vacuum to suck the air out of the bag for an airtight freeze, preserving vegetables and berries. She could butcher a chicken, process game and seafood and still have the energy to serve an amazing dinner, completely home-made. One never left the table hungry at mom’s house!

Mom’s faith sustained her and comforted her. We take comfort in the hope she held so close, that we will all be together again someday.

The legacy she leaves behind are her four children, Mike (Jean) Miller, Bob (Alice) Miller, Laurel (Paul) Vodopich and Janet McAdams; 11 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. July 27 at the Little Brown Church in Maxwelton.