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Obituary: Carol B. Miller, 94, Lowville
Published: March 11, 2023
By: Provided by Iseneker
Funeral Home
Carol B. Miller
 LOWVILLE, N.Y. — Carol
Banner Miller, 94, beloved wife of the late Dr. John S. Miller, died peacefully
at home on March 8, 2023. A dearly loved
wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend, Carol
died in the company of her family.
Carol was born
February 24, 1929 in Oneonta, NY to Lester and
Lura R. Banner. She grew up on Union Street and soon developed a love of
education attending the Bugbee School. After graduating from Oneonta High
School in 1946, she attended SUNY Oneonta, graduating in 1950 with a
teaching degree in Elementary Education. She began her teaching experience
in Scotia, NY and, after marrying John in the summer of 1951, later spent a
year teaching in Boston’s Chinatown while John completed his dental degree
at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. After that, Carol and John
were off to North Carolina, as John became an officer in the U.S. Navy and
was attached to the U.S. Marine Corps as a dental officer, and they were
stationed at Camp LeJeune and Cherry Point. Upon John’s end of service,
they relocated to Lowville where John went into dental practice with his
brother, the late Dr. Edgar M. Miller.
Carol and John began
a family, bought the old Hough House on Collins Street, and made it their
family home for life.
Raising her
children became a full-time passion, and Carol would go on to attend most
every event in which any of her kids participated. A practice she would
later repeat with each of her grandchildren. And yet, she always found ways
to express her love for teaching and interacting with children. Carol
taught Sunday School at Trinity Episcopal Church and was a Brownie leader.
In later years, she volunteered at the Lewis County General Hospital and
oversaw the Gift Shop at Constable Hall. But her priority was her family
and their friends.
Her house was
open to all, and Carol and John often found their home and yard filled with
neighborhood kids and cousins. During maple syrup season, one of the
biggest enticements was the backyard sugar shanty. John loved to boil after
work and on weekends, and with the first puff of steam from the evaporator,
Carol would quickly find a crowd of Nortz, Miller,
Merrell and Lormore children awaiting the first
draw off. She would not only make sure everyone got a fresh taste, but would make maple sugar candies in the shape
of animals, automobiles and trains and provide them to homes in the
neighborhood.
Intent on making
sure her children’s birthday parties were always welcoming and fun, Carol
was an expert at creating memorable celebrations. From fishing inside in
December to fabulous cookouts and games in May to exciting scavenger hunts
and costume parties just after Halloween on November 1st. And she made sure
these parties continued with all three of her beloved grandchildren. Carol
was very creative and her house was filled with
construction paper, crayons, markers and a sundry of art supplies. It was
always a race to her desk to begin a project when her grandchildren came to
visit.
In addition to
visual arts, Carol loved playing the piano and the organ, and she played
beautifully. She would play songs and sing with her children every chance
she had. She also would often play for John in the evening. But playing
with and for her grandchildren was a highlight for her. The arrival of her
great grandson Connor filled her heart with music once again.
Carol also loved
summering with her family at Crystal Lake, where her children, her extended
Miller, Merrell and Banner families and their many
friends would learn to swim, hike, boat, fish, play games, explore nature
and generally appreciate the Adirondack camp lifestyle, all under Carol’s
watchful and guiding eye. She would later do it all over again with her
beloved grandchildren. And after years of always a full house, she came to
enjoy the simple and peaceful serenity of the off-seasons
at the lake, just her and John.
Surviving Carol are
her three children, Jonathan W. Miller, Lowville, Melinda W. Miller,
Colton, and Ellen P. Miller (Richard Reed), Lowville, her three
grandchildren and constant source of so much happiness, Jacob M. Widrick, Saranac Lake, Eliada
M. Widrick (Amber), Delray Beach, and Hannah M. Widrick, Colton, and her latest bundle of joy and only
great grandchild, Connor C. Widrick. Also
surviving her are nieces Nancy Banner, Susan Banner Greer, Lucinda Miller,
Elizabeth Perry, and Margaret Tiernan and nephew Christopher Miller, as
well as a large number of Miller and Merrell
cousins and in-laws. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. John S. Miller,
and her brother and sister-in-law, L. William and
Shirley A. Banner.
Carol’s family
would like to offer their thanks for the kindness and compassion shown
Carol by her doctor, Steven Lyndacker, Lewis
County Hospice (particularly Sheri, Deylynne,
Rachael, Megan, Tammy and Darlene), and remarkable
caregivers Charlotte, Hollee, Gloria, Brenda, and
Lisa. They would also like to offer their truly heartfelt thanks to Gerald Zehr for all he has meant to and done for Carol, John and their family over the years.
At Carol’s
request, there will be no calling hours and burial will be later this year at
the Lowville Rural Cemetery at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of
flowers, contributions may be made in the name of Carol B. Miller to Lewis
County Hospice, the Constable Hall Association or the Lewis County
Historical Society.
Condolences may
be made online at www.isenekerfuneralhome.com.
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