Mary Jane Miller
1945-2015
Mary Jane Miller passed away peacefully at her home on the 17th of August 2015. She was born the 3rd of July 1945 in Atlanta, Georgia to Charles and Leila Haynes Allen. She attended Highland Elementary School. Following in her mother’s footsteps, she played violin in the school orchestra and loved to play the guitar. Mary Jane moved to Houston with her family in 1960 and graduated from Lamar High School where she enjoyed sports and singing with the Choralettes. She attended First Methodist Church and was very active in the Methodist Youth Fellowship. She was president of her MYF group.
Mary Jane attended Texas Tech University for two years. She married Charles William Miller in 1967. Her father, Dr. Charles L. Allen, was pastor of First Methodist Church, and the whole church was invited to the wedding. Mary Jane often said, “I couldn’t have asked for a more wonderful husband. We had a fun and interesting life together. I loved being a mother to Carrie, Chuck Jr., and John. I enjoyed being a room mother many times, helping with Brownies and Girl Scouts, a Cub Scout Den mother, cheerleader sponsor, and Bible school teacher.”
Mary Jane learned to play tennis when she was 10 years old and became a lifelong player. She played on tennis leagues wherever she lived and made wonderful friends. She also had a passion for reading and always had a stack of books waiting to be read.
Her family lived in many interesting places that Chuck’s job took them to including Chinhae, South Korea and three wonderful years in London, England. Mary Jane always got involved with church, school, tennis groups, and service organizations where she made many good friends. She was a wonderful mother and homemaker as the family moved from place to place.
Mary Jane was a faithful member of Chapelwood United Methodist Church where she spent many hours volunteering in the church office. She was always willing and able to do whatever was needed. When she arrived on Monday mornings, everyone’s spirits would automatically rise. After completing her work, she would join the lunch bunch and regale everyone with a funny story, a joke, or some other topic to keep things lively. She and Chuck were members of the Good News Sunday School Class. Mary Jane loved this learning experience and actively participated in the lessons. She always loved the parties.
She was a beloved member of Second Touch, a group of women who met weekly at Chapelwood Methodist Church, to study the works of progressive Christian theologians. For eight years, she shared her unique perspective humor, spiritual insights and life journey experiences with her “sisters.” Joyfully, through good as well as difficult times, she spread her positive spirit and energy to everyone, often proclaiming “Don’t you just love Thursdays!” She will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered.
The memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 22nd of August at Chapelwood United Methodist Church, 11140 Greenbay Street, Houston, Texas 77024. Friends are cordially invited to a reception, hosted by the family, immediately following the service.
Mary Jane was predeceased by her parents; and brothers, Charles Allen, Jr. and Franklin Allen. She is survived by her husband, Charles William Miller; daughter, Carolyn Miller Graves and husband, Bill; sons, Charles Miller, Jr., and John Miller and wife, Jennifer; grandson, Will Graves; sisters-in-law: Ann Wollsey Allen and Lorraine Lee Allen; brother and sister-in-law, Phillip and Carolyn Lee; and many nephews and nieces.
In lieu of the customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Mary Jane’s memory may be directed to the United Methodist Committee on Relief @ umcor.org