Shirley Marie Miller's Obituary
Shirley Marie (Blankenship) Miller, 87, passed away peacefully in Broken Arrow, OK on Friday June 20, 2016. She was born near Boone’s Mill, VA om May 30, 1929 to Bill and Mildred Blankenship. Her father was a factory-trained mechanic and milkman. Her mother was a homemaker and raised 5 children to adulthood. After growing up in Virginia, Shirley’s family moved to Neosho, MO in the summer of 1945. She graduated from Neosho High School shortly before the family moved to Joplin, MO in the summer of 1946. Shirley attended Joplin Junior College, paying her own way, for the next two years. While attending Joplin Junior College, she met her future husband, Bob Miller. Shirley served in a number of volunteer roles both before and after a twenty-year career at Shell Oil. Her most notable roles were centered around gardening and the environment. She served more than 25 years as a member, mentor and leader in the Tulsa County Master Gardeners organization. She was very involved in the Blue Thumb and other organizations that protect the environment. Mrs. Miller is survived by her sisters, Mary Casady of Keokuk, IA, Mildred Banks and husband, John of Tulsa, OK, brother-in-law, Don Miller and wife Rilla of Joplin, MO, son, Rick, and wife, Lila of Tulsa, daughter, Robin and partner, Leslie Brown, of Broken Arrow, six grandchildren and two great-grandsons. Shirley was preceded in death by her father, William “Bill” Blankenship, mother, Mildred Irene Moffett Blankenship, brother, Jim Blankenship, sister, Billie Sue Flournoy, of Joplin, MO and her beloved husband of 63 years, Robert E. “Bob” Miller. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Meals on Wheels (12620 E. 31st St., Tulsa, OK 74146, 918-627-4103, in honor of Shirley Miller. Memorial Service will be 12:30 PM, Wednesday, June 22nd, Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel.
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