Phyllis leaves behind a legacy of love and devotion – not just for her family, but for the country she proudly served. Phyllis was one of the first women in the US Army assigned to the infantry division. During her service, she was awarded medals for Good Conduct, Sharpshooter, and Marksman, as well as an Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Ribbon. She was honorably discharged as an Army Chapel Act Specialist. Everyone that came to Phyllis’s home could see her wall of family that served in the US military; her pride in her military roots ran deep.
The only thing that gave her more pride was her family. In her final days, she was surrounded by the family she built. The scene was truly something to behold – just like all those summer barbecues, fishing trips, and family gatherings, the room was filled with love, laughter, and togetherness. When asked for the one piece of advice she would leave us, her response was “I live life by my shoulders, and not by my gut. If you do that, you are always looking forward with your head held high.”
Phyllis leaves behind her four children Tammy (Chris) Vickery, Jeanette (Robert) McIlhone, Fayte Miller, and Shawn Jacobs, her siblings Dorothy (Paul) Brown, Dan (Gayle) Sullivan, and her little sister and closest friend Barbara T. Maine (Steven Booth), her grandchildren Christopher Vickery, Jonathon Eakin, Jake (Marissa) Eakin, and Joseph Eakin, and her great grandchildren Zechariah, Amiyah, Elizabeth, Evangeline, Hudson, Styles, and Lily. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Gene Miller, her brothers John Lamere and Tim Sullivan, her son-in-law Chris Vickery, and her beloved grandson, Austin Vickery.
Phyllis lived her life with an “Open Door Policy” – her home was full of love, a good hug, the honest, truth, and “I love you, baby” on your way out the door. The loss of her is felt greatly, but her love and faith in what was waiting for her was greater. In her words, “This place is never going to be the same without me.” No truer words have ever been spoken. We love you mom, aunt, sister, g-ma, and friend, Phyllis Joyce Miller.
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