Lois Mardell Miller

Our beloved mother has passed on to Glory. Born Lois Mardell Johnson on Dec. 18, 1928, in Tacoma, Wash., to Henry Gustav Johnson and Jennie Elvira Klang, she attended Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Wash., majoring in German and English, and graduated in 1947. She later attended Bethel College & Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., graduating in 1956. Lois married Neal Henry Miller at Central Baptist Church in Tacoma, Wash., on March 21, 1970, and became mother to his two children, Susan and Jason, after the passing of their biological mother, Geraldine McPhail Miller. Lois later adopted Susan and Jason, and the family once again became whole. During her working years, Lois held secretarial positions with Baptist General Conference, Central Baptist Church, Sunrise Baptist Church, and Brim Tractor Company. She retired in May 1991, having lived in Tacoma, St. Paul, Chicago, Puyallup, and Lynden. She spent her final years at Cedar Ridge in Bonney Lake, then The Cottages, a memory care community in Edgewood, Wash. Mom loved flower gardening (favorites were fuchsias and roses), cooking, crafts, eating out, and shopping. She was the consummate hostess and enjoyed “having company over.” Lois was a take-charge, Type A, strong-willed, stubborn Swedish-Finn who was quick to laugh and love. She loved her family fiercely and supported them every way she could. A steady and strong Christian, Lois’ unwavering faith bore her through the deaths of every one of her siblings. She was a comforting mother and a loyal and loving wife. Lois was the baby of a large family. She was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Jennie, and siblings Alfhild, Bernhard, Cecelia, Dagney, Eleanor, Florence, Gordon, Henry, Inez, James, and Katherine, and their spouses. Lois is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Neal; children Susan (Tim) Carter of Bonney Lake, Wash., and Jason (Rebecca) Miller of Concrete, Wash.; grandchildren Timmy (Jenica) Carter of Buckley, Wash., Aaron (Lindsey) Carter of Covington, Wash., Adam (Kayla) Carter of Tacoma, Wash., Jonathan Carter of Hillsboro, Ore., Hannah Carter of Portland, Ore., and Morgan Sample of Concrete, Wash.; great-grandchildren Gavin, Emma, Ellie, Warren, Titus, Brady, William, and Paxton Carter; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Curnow Funeral Home, Sumner, Wash. Interment at Woodbine Cemetery, Puyallup, Wash. A graveside service was held on April 16, 2021, at Woodbine Cemetery. Rest in peace, Mom. We will see you again, in Paradise.