Emilie Miller, age 96, was welcomed into heaven from her home in Spring, Texas on January 22, 2021.  The wife of Marvin R. Miller, now deceased, she is the beloved mother of Marvin L. Miller and his wife Sharon, her daughter Monica, deceased, and she is Oma to her grandchildren Meredith Miller of Houston and Marlane and her husband Ernesto Rodriguez of Houston.  Extended family members in Austria and Wisconsin as well as her neighbors and friends celebrate her extraordinary life.

Born in the small town of Wolfern, Austria on the first day of spring, March 21, 1924, Emilie grew up amidst a large extended family and close, friendly neighbors.  The war years of her early adulthood were very hard, and at times, she ran from bombs and hid in the woods far from home.  Like others in her country, she rejoiced when the Americans liberated their region, especially when a young soldier walked into her town asking if anyone spoke English.  She fell in love with that soldier and, looking at his picture not long before she died said, "He was so handsome!  Every time I saw him, my heart flipped over."  They were married nearly 50 years.  Emilie persevered through her husband's two tours in Korea, two tours of Vietnam, and transfers to cities across Germany and the United States every two years by lavishing her loving attention on her son, working as a teacher, and retiring from a career in civil service.

Emilie made a house a home.  Army base quartermasters were amazed at how beautifully styled the Miller quarters were because of the tasteful curtains, coordinating slipcovers and pillows she created.  Her home was immaculate and ready for company, and her apple strudels, Sunday Tortes, palatschinken, and delicious meals were legendary.  She had a passion for fashion and enjoyed couture sewing, knitting, crocheting, and smocking.  A tireless bargain shopper, she made or adapted her own patterns and created marvelous garments from mill ends and fine fabrics from batiste to silk, gingham to Ultrasuede.  She always said, "There are no mistakes, only designer touches."  She never understood baseball but was an avid football fan, especially the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Aggies, Texans, and Green Bay Packers.  Careful of her health, she took her blood pressure several times a day and shared the record with her doctor at her annual visits.  Her record was always steady except for one alarming rise with the cardiologist's notation: "this was when the Cowboys were at the Superbowl."  When Emilie and Marvin built their home in Spring, right around the corner from her son's family, her granddaughters quickly made a path to their back door and used it often.  They became Oma and Papa to the girls' friends, and each one knew where the candy drawer was.

A faithful member of Klein United Methodist Church, Emilie was also an active participant in the NW Houston Bible Study Fellowship Class for over 25 years.  Her family and friends respected and loved her for her deep faith, resilience, kindness, wit, and incredible cookies.  They loved her many stories and took her wise advice.  Emilie exemplified the Proverbs 31 woman: "Who can find a virtuous wife?  For her worth is far above rubies. . .  Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her, 'Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.'"

She will be buried next to her husband at Klein Memorial Park, Spring-Klein in a private service.  The family will host a celebration of her life later this year.  In lieu of flowers, she hoped that people would make a donation to Klein United Methodist Church's food pantry, www.kleinumc.org, or to the Wounded Warriors Project, www.support.woundedwarriorsproject.org.