Jessie E. Miller, 84, of Edwardsville, formerly of Sorento, died on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, at 3:18 a.m. at her residence.
Visitation will be held Friday, Oct. 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Perfetti-Assalley Funeral Home in Sorento. Those attending will be asked to social distance and wear masks per CDC guidelines. The family will have a memory basket and asks those attending to bring a card with one memory of Mrs. Miller on it, as well as the name and address of the card giver.
Mrs. Miller was born Sept. 14, 1936, in Sorento, to Laurel E. and Vaughn (Himes) Neathery. She married Thomas H. Miller on March 14, 1954, at United Methodist Church in Sorento, and he preceded her in death on July 21, 2019. She loved her husband and the two lived a 65 year-long love story.
A wizard in all things related to crafts, she had a true passion for crocheting and quilting. She put her talents to charitable use by devoting countless hours to church and after school programs.
At Sorento Baptist Church and Leesburg Baptist Church, Mrs. Miller and her husband led an arts and crafts program for disadvantaged children for many years. For over 20 years, they were camp directors at the Rehoboth Church Camp. She never met a child she didn’t like, and children enjoyed her the way she taught and told stories. She and her husband loved to teach Bible School to kids and have done so for much of their adult lives.
A musician at heart, she played the piano not only in church, but also accompanied the local school’s musical competitions.
Mrs. Miller loved and enjoyed life. She was a generous woman who relished in sharing the gifts she had been given. She loved to cook and she loved to travel. Jointly with her husband and her daughters, she visited all corners of the world. Always bringing back new experiences and joyful stories to her friends and the children in her youth programs.
She is survived by her three daughters, Marsha Ann Miller of Louisville, KY, Melinda Sue (husband Albert) Duffel of Sour Lake, TX, and Theresa Kay (husband Sev) Keil of Vienna, Austria; five grandchildren, James Miller, Sonya Leppo, Natasha Miller, Megan Butler and Sev Keil; two great-grandchildren, Mira Leppo and Monroe Butler; sister, Cleda Chesnut of Litchfield; and brother-in-law, Marvin (wife Henrietta) Miller of Panama.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Miller was preceded in death by her parents; and sister, Gail Cruthis.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Kirkland Cemetery Association, 5107 Sorento Avenue, Sorento, IL 62086 or Sorento Baptist Church, 206 West Taylor Street, Sorento.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com.
