Gwendolyn Catherine Teresa (Ott) Miller, 71, formerly of Union Star and Stanberry, passed into Eternity on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at her home in St. Joseph, MO.
She was born on August 4, 1954, at Fort Leavenworth Hospital, Leavenworth, Kansas, to Jon Kenneth and Shirley Catherine (Dill) Ott. Her father, Jon, was serving in the Military in Trieste, Italy at the time of her birth and did not see her until she was nine months old. Gwendolyn met the love of her life on a cold day in January 1973 at the School of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, Missouri. She contended that it was love at first sight for her but took Mickey Miller another seven years to realize it. They married on October 4, 1980, at Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Stanberry, Missouri.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents Ray & Shirley (Vogt) Ott and Troy and Leona Catherine (Mitchell) Dill, her parents, brothers Gregory and George, brother-in-law, Charles Nichols, Don & Sue Laizure and several aunts and uncles.
Gwendolyn is survived by her loving husband of 45 years, Mickey of the home in St. Joseph, Scott Hartman affectionately known as “Lit’l Fly” Overland Park, Kansas, sisters, Geneva Beaman, Ukiah, California, Genetta Nichols, St. Joseph, brother Gayland Ott, Ukiah, California, and in-laws, John & Lula Locklin, St. Joseph, Missouri, and Larry & Judy Miller, Plattsburg, Missouri. Additional survivors include: several aunts and uncles, 11 nieces and nephews, 17 great nieces and nephews and 2 great, great nieces and nephews, cousins and many, many friends.
Gwendolyn graduated in the class of ’72 from Union Star High School and attended college at School of the Ozarks, Point Lookout, Missouri, Benedictine College, Atchison, KS and Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, Missouri where she studied music and elementary education. Although she didn’t finish her degree, she went on to a successful career in music ministry and teaching piano lessons. She had played organ and piano for Worship for 48 years in several Baptist, Catholic, Methodist and Lutheran churches until her eyesight prohibited her from seeing the music clearly. In addition, she taught approximately 150 piano students over a period of 35 years.
She also had a passion for animals, especially kitties having 1-30 kitties to love on and was affectionately referred to by a dear friend, Corky Cundiff, as “The Madame of the Cat House!”
She had been an active member of First Baptist Church, St. Joseph, Missouri until the last two years when her health prevented her from attending. Any memorials may be given to First Baptist Church, St. Joseph—Music Fund or to the American Diabetes Association.
Service 11:00 A.M. Saturday, January 17, First Baptist Church in St. Joseph. Visitation one hour prior to the service. Arrangements under the direction of Simplify Cremations & Funerals.
