MILER, Ava Itah (HARRIS)

VANDERPOOL, MILER, PETTIT, THOMPSON, HARRIS, BRANNON, ELLIS

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 5/2/2015 at 22:54:40

Obituary ~ Ava Itah (Vanderpool) Miler
May 18, 1904 ~ April 12, 2001

Leon Journal-Reporter
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa

Ava Itah Miler, daughter of John Jefferson Harris and Lou Ella Vanderpool, was born May 18, 1904, in Cainesville, Mo. and died April 12, 2001, at Westview Acres Care Center in Leon. She was 96.

She attended schools in rural Missouri and Southern Iowa. She married Alfred Pettit on June 22, 1922, in Osceola. They became the parents of a daughter, Mildred. She married Frank Lewis Miler on April 12, 1930, in Ottumwa. They became the parents of three children, John, Louise and Don.

Mrs. Miler was owner and operator of the Guest Home in Osceola from 1959 to 1990. She spent most of her life in Clarke and Decatur Counties.

Mrs. Miler loved to crochet and was well-known for the many afghans she crocheted for her family and friends.

She was a former member of the Four Square Church in Osceola.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husbands, Alfred Pettit and Frank Miler; two brothers, Melvin Harris and Clarence "Chick" Harris; a grandson, Terry Thompson and great-grandson, Michael Brannon.

Surviving Mrs. Miler are two daughters, Mildred Brannon and her husband, Marion "Bud" Brannon and Louise Thompson and her husband, Wayne "Red" Thompson, of Osceola; two sons, John Miler and his wife, Dee Miler and Don Miler of Osceola; a foster son, Martin Monroe Ellis and his wife, Joan Ellis, of Des Moines; 11 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild; a brother, George Harris of California; many nieces, nephews and cousins and a host of friends.

Funeral services for Mrs. Miler were April 17 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, Pastor Chuck DeVos officiating. Organist Pennie Gonseth accompanied soloist Emil Rinderspacher as he sang Sweet Bye and Bye, No Night There and In the Garden.

Casket bearers were Butch Brannon, Tom Earls, Donnie Thompson,

Johnny Miler, Tom Cole and John Britt. Honorary casket bearers were her great-grandchildren. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery at Osceola.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Osceola Assembly of God.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2015