Patricia Irene Miller

Patricia Irene (‘Trish’ or ‘Pat’) Miller (Schaffner) joined to be with our father, Lewis R. Miller, ret SMSGT, on 25 April, 2014. Trish was born in Butler, PA, April 13, 1930 to Irene Margaret (Duffy) and Bernard P. Schaffner. She went to St. Paul’s Parochial School and graduated from Butler Senior High school. Following her high school graduation she married our Dad, Lewis Robert Miller, on July 9, 1949 at St Paul’s Catholic Church in Butler, PA. She knew Lew since about 4th grade. She traveled with him, over the next 20 years, on his tours to San Antonio, TX; Chanute at Rantoul, Illinois; El Paso, TX; Kessler, TX; Bitburg, Germany; McChord AFB, Tacoma, WA; Taipei, Taiwan; TRUAX AFB, Madison, Wisconsin; Homestead, FL and back to Tacoma, WA. Tacoma is where Lew retired and she called home. She was very industrious and started working part-time at age 16 for 6 months at a drug store and then 2 years at a bakery in Butler, PA, where she refined her love of baking. She also sewed her own clothes. She worked at the Base Exchange in Texas. Trish enjoyed making friends and, while in Taiwan, was a member of the MAAGPIES where she was active as their Historian and participated in a variety of musicals (Oklahoma, South Pacific). She also developed her style of cooking by taking many classes in the Asian cuisine. Then she went with her family to Truax, Wisconsin and joined the Wives Club, participating in their variety shows singing and serving as their Secretary. She loved developing friendships along the way, which was evident with her phone, birthday and Christmas card lists. After taking some time off to raise her children in Tacoma, she went to school to become a bookkeeper and worked at Anderson & Anderson Accounting firm, where she met another lifelong friend, Audrey. She pursued her own businesses in candy making and selling her own paintings. Trish also worked as a professional in the Clover Park School District kitchens where she loved to share her passion of cooking. She was an Ambassador for Secure Horizons, helping others with their insurance options. She really enjoyed her last industrious endeavor as President and bookkeeper for the family business; Garraway’s Auto wrecking in Roy, WA. Trish loved to sing and was active in the Camarata Singers, the University of Puget Sound Chorale and choirs at St. Francis Cabrini, St. John Bosco, and Four Chaplain’s (JBLM) churches and was a cantor at McChord AFB Chapel. She was a Member of the Wives Club, AREWS, serving on their board in different positions. She was on a multitude of bowling leagues. Trish enjoyed bowling, swimming, oil painting, traveling, cooking, baking, and bicycle riding. She was an accomplished seamstress, and sewing for the family and Eucharistic items for the church. Our mother enjoyed managing her rental home and the numerous fruit trees, grapevines, flowers, and roses in her garden. She learned the art of recycling and became known endearingly by her family as the grandmother of”repurpose & renew”. Most of all, through her entire life, Pat was committed to her faith by raising her family and encouraging them in the Catholic Faith. She was proud of being Lew’s wife and celebrating their 60 year anniversary before her love passed in the spring of 2010. Trish is survived by her brothers, Bernard P Schaffner (Meadville, PA) and Samuel Schaffner (Sierra Vista, AZ), sister -Phyllis Casasanta (Pahrump, NV), Sister- in- law, Karen Schaffner, Sister-in –law, Mary McWhitney (Tampa, FL) four children: Margaret Irene Voelker (Lakewood, WA), LeeAnna Kraus Glessing (Bellevue/ Sammamish, WA), Lewis Robert Miller (Graham, WA) and Eileen Reyne’ McBride(Olympia, WA) and her four grandchildren: Christopher Voelker, Richard Kraus, Rebecca McBride and Sophia McBride. Also, surviving are countless, nieces and nephews. She is now singing with the angels in Eternal Love and Joy. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Patricia ‘Trish’ Miller’s name to ST John Bosco’s Grotto fund.