MARY MILLER
Posted: February 4th, 2013
April 3, 1914 ~ January 30, 2013
Mary (Hart) Miller, born on April 3, 1914, in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England to William and Sarah (Boothroyd) Hart, passed away in Medicine Hat on Wednesday, January 30, 2013, at the age of 98 years. Mary was predeceased by her husband, William John Miller; an infant son, Walter William Edward Miller; daughters, Valerie Laureen Dancey and MaryLynn Lois Howard as well as one grandson, Spencer James Dancey. She leaves to cherish her memory: three sons, James William (Dorothy) Miller, Norman Hart (Cindy) Miller, Neil Roger (Robyn) Miller as well as seventeen grandchildren, thirty-three great-grandchildren and eighteen great-great-grandchildren. Mary lived in the countryside with her grandparents for a short time to allow her parents to save enough money to immigrate to Canada when she was twelve. They travelled on the steamship Regina, disembarking at a port in Quebec. They then made their way by train to Chaplin, Saskatchewan where Mary finished her schooling. At the tender age of seventeen, Mary married William (Bill) Miller in Hilda, Alberta. They homesteaded at Sandypoint until after the war when they moved to Medicine Hat where Mary has resided ever since. Mary loved to play the piano and was thrilled when her daughter-in-law gave her own piano to Mary to use. Mary occasionally played her favorites for family and also for numerous childrens’ Christmas parties at the Legion. Her favorite carol was Silent Night. Another of Mary’s past-times was her flower garden where never a weed was to be found. She grew beautiful roses, pansies, snapdragons, clematis, tulips and numerous perennials and annuals. Mary loved to dance and she floated across the dance floor many a Friday or Saturday night at the Legion. She was also a talented knitter, making sweaters for most of her grandchildren. A wool shop even commissioned her to knit several sweaters to sell at their shop. During the summers, Mary enjoyed camping at Cavan and Reesor Lakes. She loved to have family over for a BBQ in summer and roast beef dinners in winter. Mary made the best Yorkshire pudding and there was always ice cream sandwiches in the freezer for the kids along with apple pie for the adults. She was an avid walker, walking all along the river on Riverside, taking early morning walks in the mall as well as walking the hallways of Chinook Village. Mary worked for several years at Eatons and Greens downtown selling shoes, then later for the Medicine Hat School District, retiring from Vincent Massey School. She had a wonderful sense of humour. One day (at the age of 90) Mary was heard to say, “I’m stiff like an old lady!” Not usually one to complain, Mary took what life sent her with the typical British stiff upper lip. A Celebration of Mary’s life will be held at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13 Street S.W., Medicine Hat on Monday, February 4, 2013, at 11:00 A.M. Interment will follow at Prairie View Cemetery. (Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.cooksouthland.com) Honoured to serve the family is Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13th Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4 Phone 403-527-6455