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Edna Miller, age 94, of Centreville, passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2020, at Thurston Woods Care Center, Sturgis, Michigan.
Edna was born November 7, 1925, to Levi C. and Fanny (Beechy) Yoder. On February 21, 1948, she married Ezra J. (Hez) Miller. They spent all their married life living in the Burr Oak, White Pigeon, and Sturgis communities. Several winters were spent in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.
Ezra and Edna had a heart for people and were involved in many caregiving roles. They were charter members of Riverview Mennonite Church, White Pigeon; helped establish Lakeview, a group home for troubled adolescents; hosted many boarders in their home; and later turned their own home into an elder-care group home. Edna was a wonderful cook and hostess and was a faithful companion working alongside her husband in many church functions and family events. She had an upholstery business and enjoyed working in her flower beds.
After Ezra’s passing, Edna became a Home Health Aide serving the elderly in their homes. Twice she traveled to Russia with Operation Carelift, a Josh McDowell ministry. In spite of dealing with arthritis for many years, Edna made and sold beautiful quilts and dolls and enjoyed painting landscape scenes. She valued good books and delighted in reading to her grandchildren. Edna was a member of Moorepark Community Church, Three Rivers, for 20 years.
Edna was preceded in death by her husband Ezra in 1992 and two sons, William Eugene (Bill), 1968, and Kenneth Wayne (Ken), 2016; five brothers: Alvin Yoder, Lagrange; Perry Yoder, White Pigeon; Aaron, Levi, and Will Yoder, all of Shipshewana; and four sisters: Martha (Jerome) Troyer, Goshen; Irma (Howard) Troyer and Barbara (Alvin) Mullet of Shipshewana; and Mary (Mose) Gingerich of Goshen.
Survivors include two sons, Maynard (Ruby) Miller of Kalona, Iowa, and Devon (Margaret) Miller of Centreville; one daughter-in-law, Julia Miller, Sturgis; one stepdaughter, Edna (Lloyd) Brugger, Weyers Cave, Virginia; 16 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren. The family is grateful for your prayers during this difficult time. A private graveside service will be held for the family at White Pigeon Township Cemetery, and a public memorial service will be held at a later date. Edna and Ezra had a deep interest in the work of Living Hope Native Ministries of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. Memorials for Edna can be directed to Living Hope Ministries’ Indigenous Leaders Fund, which supports the work of First Nations leaders in Northwestern Ontario. Memorials may be sent to Eley Funeral Home or be made online at www.lnmh.org and designated to the Native Leaders Fund in honor of Edna Miller.
Arrangements were entrusted to Eley Funeral Home, Centreville. Online messages can be left for the family at www.eleyfuneralhomes.com.
