Eva Mae Miller, age 89 years, of Craig, Missouri, passed away at Tiffany Heights on Friday, June 30, 2023 with her loving husband Jackie at her side.
Eva Mae was born May 1, 1934 on a farm near Fairfax to Marlin B. and Ermil Evelyn (Alkire) Smith.
She attended grade school and high school at Bellevue Community school north of Mound City. She graduated from Bellevue in 1952 and then attended business college in St. Joseph, Missouri. Eva Mae then returned to Mound City and worked in the business office for Ideker car dealership.
On April 5, 1953 Eva Mae married Jackie Lee Miller at Peculiar, Missouri. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this spring.
Eva Mae and Jackie made their home on Jackie's grandparents's farm north and east of Craig. They farmed and raised registered Black Angus cattle all their lives.
They are proud parents of one son, Kenneth Roy, who has been farming and in the Angus business with them all his life.
Eva Mae was a member of the former Pleasant View Presbyterian church. She was known for her wonderful family dinners. She hosted Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and many in between. Delicious food, and well known for her Christmas duck dinners! She had many special recipes, especially her chocolate angel food cake, carrot cookies, peach pie and Christmas fruit cake. Her potato salad was the absolute best!
She assisted Jackie on the farm, gardened, was a 'go-for' and traveled to Canada and other ranches as they built their Angus herd.
They enjoyed going to the Nebraska State Fair with her brother, Roger, and his wife Barb, spending many occasions with them going to Joe Tess' in Omaha and various other, especially good, places to eat.
Eva Mae and Jackie traveled many places, especially enjoying Branson, Missouri. Eva Mae was of a quick wit and was especially good at reading between the lines in all situations.
Eva Mae's nieces and nephews said she always asked them what they had been doing and learning since they had been to her house.
Eva Mae was an avid reader and she kept daily journals that spanned many decades.
She was so proud of and enjoyed her two grandsons, Keith and Kurt. They lived just a short distance away and spent a lot of time together as they grew up.
Preceding her in death was her older brother, Leon; her parents, Marlin and Ermil Smith; and a great grandson, Clint Wilmes.
Survivors include her husband, Jackie; her son, Kenny and his wife Mary; her grandsons, Keith and wife Jennifer and Kurt and wife Tammy; brothers, Roger and his wife Barb Smith of Nebraska city and Franklin and his wife Janice of Lincoln; great grandchildren, Kailey, Ty, Levi, Leah Mae, Lily Miller, and Camille Avery Aries; step grandchildren, Olivia Gosch, April Kirkendall, Safairra Slaby, and families; and nieces and nephews.
Funeral services: Monday, July 10, 2023, 11:00 am, Chamberlain Funeral Home, Mound City. Interment: New Liberty Cemetery.
