Dorothy Irene Miller

Our loving mother, Dorothy Irene (Ellis) Miller, passed from this life and earned her wings on 12/27/2021 to join her husband Art and to be with our Lord in Heaven.

Dorothy was born on October 31, 1938 to Clarence and Lydia (Minster) Ellis at her grandparent’s farm in Smith Center, Kansas. Her parents were farmers initially, but relocated to Longview, Washington when she was about 6 years old. She grew up in the Longview area and graduated from RA Long High School in 1956. She worked for The Daily News for four years.

In 1960, she married Arthur D. Miller. In 1970, they moved to a small farm in Castle Rock, where they rebuilt the small house into a beautiful home and raised their three girls and many animals. She was very proficient with gardening, canning, caring for the animals, and providing home cooked meals for her family. Growing up, most of what we ate was home grown, from the beef, chicken, and rabbit, to the fresh and home canned fruits and vegetables. She was a member of the Cowlitz County Homemakers Roadrunners Club.

Dorothy loved God and was very active in the Castle Rock United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women (UMW). She served as president of both UMW and the church council, treasurer, and many other roles over the years. She loved to craft, so her creative talents contributed to many of the annual UMW bazaars. She also loved the weekly Bible Study group that she went to for many years.

Dorothy was active with Camp Fire, both as a child and adult. She was a group leader and co-leader for many years. Both Dorothy and Art were on the Longview area Camp Fire board, and worked year-round at Camp Singing Wind in Toledo, with off-season maintenance and clean-up days, and the summer camping seasons. She was “Cookie” (camp cook), “Nursie” (camp nurse), and the Craft Lady over the years. She and Art both received Camp Fire’s highest adult award, the Luther Gulick Award.

In 1988, she helped Art establish Art’s Glass Shop, doing the bookkeeping, scheduling, and all office duties from their home. Together they built a successful business until Art retired in 2000.

Dorothy loved to read mysteries and historical novels, collect depression glass, watch old movies, sing, crochet, craft, sew her girls’ clothes, keep a huge garden, cook, and can fruits and vegetables. Her favorite flower was the iris, her favorite color was blue. She lived a life of service, with devotion to her family, God, and her church. She loved to help family and friends whenever she could.

She is preceded in death by her husband Art, a brother Alvin Ellis and sister Alice McLucas, who were twins, her parents, and a grandson, Michael Morgan. We can only imagine the family reunion they are having!

She is survived by her daughters, Corri Fadness of Chehalis, Debbie Frost (David) of Port Orchard, and Jennifer Bonham (Juston) of Castle Rock, and many nieces and nephews.

The family held a private burial at Longview Memorial Park. A celebration of Dorothy's life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, at the Castle Rock United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be made to the Castle Rock United Methodist Church.