Lois Miller

MILLER, LOIS (LARSEN) passed away on March 18, 2026. Born September 21, 1926 in Jackson, MS, daughter of the late Homer and Mae (Amidon) Larsen of Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS and passing away just six months prior to her 100th birthday and 33 years to the day from the death of her husband, Lois saw and experienced much in her long and full life.

Lois graduated from Madison-Ridgeland High School in Madison, MS and then Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH in June of 1948 with a degree in Elementary Education. She married Robert Jay Miller (Bob) in 1948. She taught Kindergarten and First Grade for four years before raising their four children, primarily in Silver Spring, MD. After retirement, Lois and Bob built a log home in Dillsburg, PA (doing much of the work themselves, as they did two of their previous homes). In 1998 (after Bob’s passing in 1993), Lois moved to Frederick, MD, where she lived for nine years before moving to Coburg Village (Rexford, NY) in 2007 and then Loudonville Assisted Living Residence (Loudonville, NY) in 2014, where she passed away surrounded by family, music and laughter.

Lois’s many varied interests included writing, voracious reading, playing games (primarily Scrabble, Rummikub and Canasta), camping and collecting (books, teacups, thimbles, wooden spoons, antiques and photos, to name a few). She was active in Girl Scouts for almost 30 years (as a girl and then as a leader for her three daughters) and in community, school and church pursuits, acting as manager of the Montgomery County Youth Orchestra, organizing and directing several adult and children’s handbell choirs, singing in choirs and choruses, and playing in adult handbell choirs. Lois enjoyed sewing and embroidery and spent her final years meticulously stitching flannel baby blankets (numbering in the thousands?), which she happily gave away to family, friends, cherished Loudonville staff and shelters.

All but one of her summers as a child (halted only by war) were spent in Bay View, MI, where her parents and grandparents had summer cottages. This was a tradition she and Bob continued with their family where, in their retirement years, they participated in the Bay View Theater Arts Department community - Lois as the Production Coordinator for 18 plays and 18 musicals.

She was preceded in death by Bob, after almost 45 years of marriage, and her brother, Vincent T. Larsen. She is survived by her daughter Janet (Chuck) Powers, son Clark (Kim) Miller, and daughters Ellen (Scott) Black and Jilby (Dan) Cheston. Also surviving are grandchildren Benj (Erica) Miller, Chris Powers, Heidi (Andy) Casto, Steve (Sheri) Powers, Lars (Beth) Miller, Jack Cheston, Carrie Cheston, Rachel Cheston and Isaac (Jasmine) Cheston. Also surviving are her eleven great-grandchildren Karissa, Micah and Eliza Powers; Linkin, Kenyon, Anthem and Torin Miller; Amari and Beatrice Casto; and Boston and Charley Jane Miller. She is also survived by her brother, Richard (Fay) Larsen of West Jordan, UT; sister-in-law Louise Larsen of Billings, MT and numerous grand-dogs and grand-cats.

An out-of-state Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date. Donations may be made to charities of your choice.

Lois was dearly loved by her family and will be missed tremendously, as those life lessons she taught live on in her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and all those whose lives she touched.

                                                                                            Precious in the sight of the Lord

                                                                                                 is the death of His saints.

                                                                                                        - Psalm 116:15

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