Edna Miller

Edna Laura Miller, age 93, was a long time resident of Reading, OH. The last seven years she lived in Citrus Springs, FL with her daughter Becky and son-in-law Brian.  She passed away peacefully on October 10, 2017. She was surrounded by her loved ones and under the amazing care of Hospice of Citrus County.

Edna was born May 22, 1924 in W. Hiawatha, Carbon County, UT to Isaiah and Bertha (Fairhurst) Boone. She was the first of the five children to be born in the United States. Her two older brothers were born in Leigh, Lancashire, England as were her parents. At age 10 her family moved to Amsterdam, OH. A year later her father and uncle Joseph Boone were killed in the Wolf Run Mine explosion in 1935. She married Ray Arthur Miller of Carrollton, OH. They had met two years earlier at a Lutheran Church. Ray had been dating the preacher's daughter and asked her if he could walk Edna home. The preacher's daughter said it was ok. Edna always laughed about this. Ray proposed to mom when they went Christmas caroling with church. They were married on September 19, 1942 in that same church. They had three children. Cheryl A. Costa of Reading, Richard L. (Debbee S. Wissler) Miller, of Ludlow, KY and Rebecca "Becky" S. (Brian K. Wissler) Wissler of Citrus Springs, FL. Edna supported the WWII effort by working at a shipyard at Meyer Island, CA as a welder and a ship fitters helper. She also would bike to deliver plans to different ships. She was 18 and a newlywed whose husband had gone off to war. Ray was stationed there for a short time before being deployed overseas. She had also worked at an airplane factory in Alliance, OH and was an inspector. She was our Rosie the riveter. Our hero! She managed the Booth Confectionary in Steubenville, OH for her mother and step-father until the war ended and Ray came home. She worked for Kathryn Beich Candies as an office manager for 27 years. She received an accommodation thanking her for her valiant service and letting her know that all of the offices nationwide had been patterned after hers. After retiring she and her husband were called to serve as full-time temple missionaries at The Chicago Temple which they faithfully did for approximately 18 months. Later serving for a week every month in that same capacity. She held many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in both the Cincinnati Second And Montgomery Wards. Her favorite calling was being the "Cookie Grandma."  She joked that grown men would follow the scent of her freshly baked cookies in her basket as she walked down the hallways to the church nursery. She was an avid fan of the Cincinnati Reds and the Cincinnati Bengals and rooted for anyone who played against the Pittsburgh Steelers. She loved life, family, and friends. She was called mom or grandma by more than just family members. She was an amazing cook and shared her gift with many. Many sought after her recipes which she shared freely. There was always room for one or two more at the table. She loved having family gatherings for the holidays and Sunday dinner. Her and Ray's house was always a refuge from the storms of life. It was a place of peace and harmony.

She is preceded in death by her husband Ray Miller, her brothers Harry, Edwin, and Wilfred Boone and her sister Margaret Myrtle Boone Brownrigg. Also her step-brothers, Dean and John Booth and step-sisters Doris, Lizzie and Millie. She is the proud grandmother of Jerome Costa, III, Jennifer (Sean) Lefler, Emily (Ryan) Wendt, Christopher Costa, Heidi (Doug) Miley, Brian (Caitlin) Wissler, II, Jeremy Miller, Chad (Christie) Miller, and Amy Miller. She treasured her great-grandchildren too. They are Ryan Costa, William "Will" Costa, Ashleigh Heflin, Layla Lefler, Violet Wendt, Evelyn "Evie" Wendt, Madelyn "Maddy" Miley, Hunter Miley, Lillian "Lily" Wissler, Emma Wissler, Clarissa Miller, and Clayton Miller.

She will be sorely missed but we are blessed with the knowledge that she is reunited with her husband and those that have gone before and in the presence of our Heavenly Father.

The visitation will be Thursday, October 19, 2017 from 5:00pm - 8:00pm at Vorhis and Ryan Funeral Home at 5501 Montgomery Rd., Norwood,OH 45212. The funeral will take place on Friday, October 20, 2017 at 10:00am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 8250 Cornell Rd., Montgomery, OH 45249.

Internment will be at Arlington Memorial Gardens, 2145 Compton Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45231 following the funeral.

For those who do not like to send flowers a donation in Edna's name to the Cincinnati Association for the Blind would be greatly appreciated. They are located at 2045 Gilbert Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45202  or to Hospice of Citrus County, P.O. Box 641270, Beverly Hills, FL 34464.