Marjorie Miller

Published 6:12 am Wednesday, August 30, 2017

LONGVIEW — Marjorie Miller, 99, died July 27, 2017, in the Longview Hospice Center. She was born Marjorie Grace Barta on April 3, 1918, in Ryegate, Montana, the first child of Laura (Marshall) Barta and Antonin Barta. She and her parents survived the Spanish Influenza Epidemic.

She participated in almost all of the activities at Ryegate High School, including basketball, while maintaining near-perfect grades. When the United States entered World War II, she enlisted in the Women’s Army Air Corps. She was stationed in Miami Beach, Florida, working in a large office that provided support to servicemen and their families. After leaving the WAAC, she performed similar duties for the VA in Seattle, Washington.

Marjorie met Jim Miller in Seattle, and they were married Jan. 1, 1947. Their children, Janet Anderson and Lora Harbour, were born while Jim studied to obtain a degree in Chemical Engineering. Marjorie typed his thesis, error-free, complete with footnotes, a true feat in a time of manual typewriters, carbon paper and onionskin copies. The family moved to Kelso, Washington, when Jim took a job with Reynolds Metals.

Marjorie was active in the PTA, March of Dimes, and Children’s Orthopedic Hospital Penny Drive, while also sewing for her daughters, especially coordinating Easter outfits. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Kelso. She loved to travel, flying to New York City, Montreal, and Scotland with her husband. Once her daughters had married, Marj and Jim spent more time in their second home in Seaview. When Jim retired, they sold their homes in Kelso and Seaview and moved to Nahcotta. They spent several winters in Yuma, Arizona, until 1991 when Jim suffered a stroke and passed away in a Phoenix hospital.

Marj moved to be near Lora in Aloha, Oregon, then to Ocean Park for several years, where she enjoyed cribbage, dancing and hunting for mushrooms until her health began to fail. She moved to Longview to a duplex, and finally lived in The Canterbury for over 15 years. She was an avid reader. Her mind remained sharp even when her body failed her.

She was predeceased by her brother Russell, and was survived by her brother Donald, her daughters, four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. She requested no memorial services. The family suggests donations may be made to Community Home Health and Hospice in her memory.