Mary Lee (Dent) Miller
Mary Lee (Dent) Miller, 82, of Pea Ridge, died on Saturday July 24, 2021, in her home, surrounded by the Holy Spirit and her loved ones after overcoming a short illness of Parkinson’s disease. She was born on Sept. 23, 1938, in Garfield, to her father, Virgil Lee Dent, and mother, Lillie Mae (Arnold) Dent.
Growing up, she attended school in Pea Ridge. Throughout the 12 years, she created many memories and endured lifelong friendships, including her “sister” friend Jane Weiser. She graduated in the class of 1956. She was “Miss Pea Ridge” in the summer of her senior year.
She would then embrace life further; by marrying her high school sweetheart and love of her life; Carroll Miller, on Nov. 25, 1956. Furthermore, they spent the next 50 years hand in hand, loving life and embracing family values.
The Millers became successful business owners in the Pea Ridge area. In her free time, she volunteered with a local organization “Granny’s Quilts of Love,” making quilts and donating them to the Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. She also crocheted many afghans, hats and scarves for family and friends/classmates, placing love in every stitch. She was a “green thumb” when it came to flowers and plants. She enjoyed some recreational activities such as camping, boating, operating several farms and learning to two-step with her husband over the years. She worked in manufacturing some, too.
She had a passion for animals including her dog, Annie, and horses, Blaze and Angel.
As time went on, she became good friends with Frank Gathright. They two-stepped together, and reminisced about their families.
She was always a loving person and good role model to those around her. She loved God, her family, especially the grand and great grandchildren, friends, and lived life to the fullest, without regrets.
“Mom, we love and miss you, but we know you are watching over us high on that mountain.”
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carroll Miller; her parents; two brothers-in-law; and one sister-in-law.
Survivors are her son, Anthony “Tony” Miller and his wife, Roseanne, of Fayetteville; daughter, Diana Bray and her husband, Joe, of Pea Ridge; grandchildren, Kevin Miller and his wife, Christine, Tessa Kents and Celena Gaudern and her husband, Sam; grandchildren, David Bray and his wife Daisy, Richard Bray and his wife, Jaclyn, and Dakota Bray and his wife, Lindsay; great-grandchildren, Wyatt, of Bentonville, LaTeace, John and Elizabeth, of Bella Vista; Stella, Minnie and Spencer, of Elkins, Aydian and A’na, of Lyons, Ga., Jackson and Colt, of Covington, Va., and Radley and Hayden, of Cassville, Mo.; and two sisters-in-law, Charlotte Miller Nyberg (Wes) of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Jeri Miller (Argie) of Wisconsin Dells, Wisc.
The family wishes to say a sincere “thank you” to Mercy PT, Jeannie, aides; Speech therapists, Kristy; Keresa and Linda, family assists; Circle of Life Hospice for the compassionate care they showed Mom in her final week; Sisco Funeral Home; the many friends who called to visit with her, offer help if family had to be away, sent kind words through cards, brought reading materials, prayed for us, sent meals, or special desserts for us, or beautiful flowers.
Remember: “Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free; I’m following the path God laid for me, I took his hand when I heard Him call, I turned my back and left it all.”
Online condolences may be made at siscofuneralhome.net.