Kathleen “Katie” J. (Leigh) Miller, 64, St. Joseph, Missouri, passed away Sunday, November 5, 2023.
She was born April 17, 1959 in Chicago, Illinois to William and Helen Leigh. Katie grew up in Chicago, where she and her family enjoyed swimming, boating and competitive water skiing on Lake Michigan. She also played on a softball league team with her sisters.
Katie was co-owner of Spicer Floor Covering with her first husband for 20-plus years. They lived in lake houses in the Kansas City area, where they would enjoy boating and got involved in Scramble dirt bike racing. Katie also was part of a group that went on float trips. Her love of water activities also included having a hot tub for 35 years.
After her divorce, Katie met Daniel Miller at the paint store where he worked in Overland Park, Kansas. Daniel talked her into relocating to St. Joseph, and they eventually married on February 14, 2002.
Katie worked at Nebraska Furniture Mart, Joe’s Carpet in Kansas City, Eckard’s and Home Depot before changing careers. She was a CNA for about eight years, first at Saxton’s and LaVerna Village in St. Joseph, and then worked in home-health care. She made good friends wherever she worked, and the older folks trusted her for her age and wisdom.
She was very involved in Daniel’s military career and in Shriner activities, including Moila’s Legion of Honor and the annual circus. She proved to be an effective fundraiser.
After buying season tickets to the Chiefs games for her first husband, she ended up being a huge fan herself. She got the tickets in the divorce and continued attending games for many more years with Daniel.
Katie enjoyed hosting large family gatherings on holidays, and loved to decorate the house, especially for Halloween. She helped Daniel remodel and redecorate their house, and used her business savvy to help him with their rental units and bookkeeping.
Katie was liked and loved by many people and touched many lives through the years. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Helen; sister, Linda Sue Leigh; brother, Wesley Leigh; brother-in-law, James Samuel Miller; two nephews, Chuck and Mark Wager; first husband, Allen Spicer; beloved pets, Kasba, Touchdown, Snow and Charlie Girl.
Survivors include her husband of nearly 22 years, Daniel; siblings, Becky Wager of Illinois, Marlys Hoefer (Mike) of Indiana, Jessie Leigh (Jill) of Rockford, Illinois, Jeff Leigh (Roxanne) of Florida, and Lester Leigh of Iowa; brothers-in-law, John Miller (Katherine) of St. Joseph, Max Miller (Linda), Helena, MO, and Roger Miller (Brenda) of St. Joseph; sister-in-law, Linda Reid of St. Joseph; several nieces, nephews, neighbors, and friends; and beloved pets, Kasba, Hunter, Little Girl and Tiger.
Farewell Services 1:00 P.M. Monday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment Grandview Cemetery, Albany, Missouri. The family will gather with friends 6:00 to 8:00 _M. Sunday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory.
