On September 20, 2021, Dorothy Jane Reams Miller, 93, was called to her heavenly home. She was the only child of her parents, Lindon L. Reams and Hudie Wooten Reams. Except for brief stints in various U.S locations with her husband, Ralph Ervin Miller, during his service in the U.S. Army (at the end of WWII), Mrs. Miller lived her entire life in McMinnville within a quarter mile of where she was born. She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Ralph E. Miller; her son, Joe Thomas Miller (Darlene); her daughter-in-law, Rhonda Thomas Miller (David), and infant grandson, Benjamin Logan Watson.
She is survived by the following family members: daughter Ann Watson and husband Charles, daughter Betty Barr and husband Larry; her son David Miller and wife Amy; daughter-in-law Darlene Dupuis Brassard, and son Frank Miller and wife Tammy; grandchildren Jonah Watson and wife Liz; David Watson; Ruth Ann Craven and husband Steven; Angela Parsons and husband Huber; Sandra Miller; Laura Swyers and husband Dan; and Whitney Judkins and husband Josh; great grandchildren Anna and Jackson Craven; Ruthie, Nate, Joy, Claire, and Amelia Parsons; Layla, Maddie, and Wesley Swyers; and Kingston Judkins.
In October 2011, Mrs. Miller wrote the following testimony, entitled “My Spiritual Journey” to be shared at the time of her transition from earth to heaven.
“My journey to God began when I was ten years old. I changed schools, and my new teacher asked the class each Monday morning if they had attended Sunday School the day before. I was embarrassed to say ‘No,’ and I immediately made my plans to attend church the following Sunday and every Sunday thereafter. I went across the street from my house where a small group was meeting in the Bybee Branch School building. The group was growing and soon built a church close to the school house. I attended church there each Sunday until I got married seven years later.
As soon as I started attending church at age ten, I began learning about God and felt drawn to Him. I wanted to obey Him but felt I was too young, as no other girls my age were stepping out to accept Him. At age 14 I did take that step and was baptized in Charles Creek, just above Turner’s Mill at Yager on July 10, 1942. At that time, I was very immature in my knowledge of God, but I knew I had done the right thing in declaring my allegiance to Him and being baptized.
Two years later I started dating Ralph Miller. It was not long before our conversations got around to religion and the church. I quickly realized that he was much better grounded in the Bible than I was and that he understood and had been taught many Bible truths that I did not know. As our relationship progressed, I knew that if we married, I would join him at the church where he was a member.
We spent the next 29 years raising our children and being deeply involved in every phase of worship and service and fellowship at Liberty Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In the years that followed, for various reasons, and in different circumstances God led us to join and serve in several other churches in the area. The two years at Providence Baptist Church (1993-94), with our son Joe as pastor, were two of the sweetest years of our church life. All the years and all the churches that we have been a part of have been very rich and rewarding. I have friends in each of the churches that we have worked in. My participation for several years in Community Bible Study also taught me much about God’s plan for my life, more than any other Bible study I have ever experienced. I thank God for it.
God is always faithful to His children and to His promise in His Book that says, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5). It has been a wonderful journey with blessings every day. Hard times, yes, but Jesus has been faithful in every circumstance, and I look forward to being in heaven where there is no more pain, no more sadness, and no more sin.”
The family invites the public to receive friends Friday from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. at McMinnville Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at 11:00 A.M. Friday, September 24, 2021, in the McMinnville Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Charles Watson officiating. Burial will be private.
Online condolences may be made at www.mcminnvillefuneralhome.com
