Marilyn Lois Miller

Marilyn Lois Miller, of Mercer Island, WA, daughter of William Manson and Regina Papko who proceeded her, passed away early Friday morning with her husband and two daughters accompanying her at the end of her life.  She was always appreciative of her outstanding care at SCCA and the UofW as she received a stem cell transplant twenty years ago, and later care at NW Kidney Center in Bellevue.

She enjoyed an interesting and varied life.  Born in Cleveland, OH, she often remarked on her young life as a fledgling ballerina performing on a local TV show.  She graduated from Sandusky H.S., attended Bowling Green State University, and graduated as an Art Major from THE Ohio State University.  Upon graduation, she moved to San Francisco and found a marvelous rooming house near Nob Hill and immediately found work.  She subsequently joined American President Lines as a recreation director on a passenger ship, and later met her husband of 53 years who was a Mate working onboard.  They lived in Seattle, San Francisco, Long Beach, Westminster, and Huntington Harbor as they raised two daughters, and retired on Mercer Island. She was very proud of their daughters: one, a Seattle School District middle school Math Teacher, and the second, an Archaeologist with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla.  She was a humble person but had enough self-confidence to venture West on her own and start a new life.

Marilyn enjoyed a variety of interests including throwing pottery, making and selling craft items, traveling, and playing card and board games of any kind.  She was a kind and caring friend to all she knew.  She was described as a "fighter", a "true lady", a "most caring person", a "fun person to be around", an "amazing friend", and "always so kind and spirited".  She worked very hard to maintain lifelong friendships from West Bromich, England to the US West Coast and a lot of spots in between. 

She is survived by her husband, Barry Miller of Mercer Island, daughter Wendy Miller of Seattle and Westport, WA, daughter Carey Miller of Pendleton, OR, her brother William "Bill" Manson and family of University Heights, OH and Marina Del Ray, CA.

A virtual and an in-person funeral mass will be held at St. Monica Church, 4311 88th Ave SE, Mercer Island at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. 

In-person attendance will follow COVID protocols including masks and social distancing.  There will not be a reception afterward.

Virtual streaming will be through www.stmonicami.org.