(From Parker Mortuary)Patricia Elizabeth Gray Miller, age 86, of Joplin, Missouri passed away Monday, January 18, 2021, at Freeman Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. Patty was born August 25, 1934 at the family home in Joplin to Laura Mae (Clark) Gray and Howard Otis Gray.
Patty attended McKinley Grade School, East Jr. High and Joplin High School where she was considered by her friends a fun, smart, outgoing, warm young woman who was elected the Senior Class Secretary, Honorary Cadet Colonel of the ROTC, and Senior Favorite with Tom Cochran.
At a young age, Patty started taking dance lessons at the Mary Ann Hatley Dance Studio where she excelled at the Cecchetti Classical Ballet Method mastering all 6 grades to become an accomplished ballerina enjoying tap and jazz, too. Her talents took her to New York City and Dallas to study in high level dance classes.
In her first year of high school, she met fellow freshman, R. Donald Miller, Jr. (Don), whom she dated for the next 7 years. During that time Patty graduated from JHS, attended Joplin Junior College for two years where she was elected the Crossroads Yearbook Queen. After her second year at JJC, she joined Don at the University of Missouri - Columbia for two years. She graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science in Education.
On June 16, 1956 Patty married her friend and love of her life, Don, in Joplin at Forest Park Baptist Church. After their honeymoon, Patty and Don moved to Dupo, IL for Don’s first job with AT&T in St. Louis, MO. Patty started her career as a kindergarten teacher and she started to teach ballet to a few of her students that grew into a dance studio of 152 students. As much as Patty loved teaching kindergarten, after a year she retired and welcomed her first child. One year later, the family moved back to Joplin.
After completing the hard work of raising their five children, Patty also excelled at china painting. Don even added a room to accommodate Patty’s hand-painted Dresden and Limoges china. A long-time member of First Presbyterian Church in Joplin teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Patty was a member of The Joplin Woman’s Club, The Curtis Club, and a chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. In addition, she served as a board member at the Joplin Sheltered Workshop and, with Don, was instrumental in bringing the College View State School to Joplin.
Patty was a very skilled angler and loved fishing, canoeing, and catching more fish than Don. She was the founder of the Miller “Cabin House”, a special family vacation place where many cherished memories were created over the last 43 years. As an avid MIZZOU and St. Louis Cardinal fan, she attended many games over the years with family and friends. She was at home in her simple cabin in Southwest Missouri, but also traveled the world visiting several European countries, Israel and also Kenya and Alaska with Don. Loving wife, caring mother, cherished grandmother; Patty will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved her.
Patty was preceded in death by her parents; son, Ray Donald Miller, III “Tripp”; great-granddaughter, Claire Elizabeth Crowe and brother, Thomas R. Gray.
In addition to her husband, Don, Patty is also survived by her children, Melinda “Mindy” Miller Crowe (Larry), Rebecca “Becky” Miller Gurley (Curtis), Mary Elizabeth Miller Williams, Thomas Gray Miller (Patti); grandchildren, Kert (Scarlett) Crowe, Nathan (Katie) Crowe, Laura (Shelby) Koch; Jackson (Madison) Gurley, Davis Gurley; Riley, Molly and Madison Miller; five great-grandchildren; brother, William (Shirley) Gray of Milwaukee, WI; sister-in-law, Susan Stalcup Gray of Columbia, MO; sister-in-law, Patricia Miller Righthouse of Oklahoma City, OK; and many nieces and nephews.
Due to the pandemic, private family graveside services will be held at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to First Presbyterian Church, or the Joplin Workshops, Inc.
Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri.
After completing the hard work of raising their five children, Patty also excelled at china painting. Don even added a room to accommodate Patty’s hand-painted Dresden and Limoges china. A long-time member of First Presbyterian Church in Joplin teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. Patty was a member of The Joplin Woman’s Club, The Curtis Club, and a chapter of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. In addition, she served as a board member at the Joplin Sheltered Workshop and, with Don, was instrumental in bringing the College View State School to Joplin.
Patty was a very skilled angler and loved fishing, canoeing, and catching more fish than Don. She was the founder of the Miller “Cabin House”, a special family vacation place where many cherished memories were created over the last 43 years. As an avid MIZZOU and St. Louis Cardinal fan, she attended many games over the years with family and friends. She was at home in her simple cabin in Southwest Missouri, but also traveled the world visiting several European countries, Israel and also Kenya and Alaska with Don. Loving wife, caring mother, cherished grandmother; Patty will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved her.
Patty was preceded in death by her parents; son, Ray Donald Miller, III “Tripp”; great-granddaughter, Claire Elizabeth Crowe and brother, Thomas R. Gray.
In addition to her husband, Don, Patty is also survived by her children, Melinda “Mindy” Miller Crowe (Larry), Rebecca “Becky” Miller Gurley (Curtis), Mary Elizabeth Miller Williams, Thomas Gray Miller (Patti); grandchildren, Kert (Scarlett) Crowe, Nathan (Katie) Crowe, Laura (Shelby) Koch; Jackson (Madison) Gurley, Davis Gurley; Riley, Molly and Madison Miller; five great-grandchildren; brother, William (Shirley) Gray of Milwaukee, WI; sister-in-law, Susan Stalcup Gray of Columbia, MO; sister-in-law, Patricia Miller Righthouse of Oklahoma City, OK; and many nieces and nephews.
Due to the pandemic, private family graveside services will be held at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to First Presbyterian Church, or the Joplin Workshops, Inc.
Arrangements are under the direction of Parker Mortuary, Joplin, Missouri.
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