Merrilee Casner Miller, 88, of Llano died Nov. 29, 2014
Merrilee Casner Miller of Llano passed away Nov. 29, 2014, at the age of 88. She was born Aug. 27, 1926, in Antioch, California, the only child of Foster and Doris Mathis Casner.
At the age of 1, the family returned to the Bluffton area on the banks of the Colorado River. When Buchanan Dam was built and Lake Buchanan began to fill, the family moved once again, this time to the Field Creek area.
Merrilee was 6 years old by this time and spent the rest of her childhood there. She attended the Hutchison School near the Llano/Mason county line where, in 1939, she met Fay Miller, her true love and lifelong partner. When talk of marriage was discussed, her father asked that they wait until Merrilee was 17. So on Aug. 27, 1943, her 17th birthday, Fay and Merrilee married at the Llano County Courthouse.
Six months after the wedding, Fay was commissioned in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and based out of San Diego, California. To be close to Fay when he was back in port, Merrilee moved to San Diego, where she worked for the government, building and repairing airplanes for the war. Expecting their first child, Merrilee moved back to Field Creek. Fay returned home after the war to a new son, Frosty, and began ranching. Three years later, another son, Marc, was born. They spent most of their years in the Pontotoc and Llano areas, raising their family.
Merrilee’s life revolved around her family. She was a wonderful cook and homemaker and fed many ranch hands through the years. Merrilee was an excellent dancer in the arms of her husband. She also enjoyed painting scenes of the Llano countryside. As her boys married and the family grew, several generations of grandchildren felt her love and care and have many special memories of their dear sweet Gran.
In 2008 and after 65 years of marriage, Merrilee lost her husband, Fay, the love of her life. She has gone home to be with her true love and best friend. Surely they are dancing in Heaven.
Merrilee is survived by her sons, Frosty Miller and wife Vicki and Marc Miller and wife Judy; grandson Faron Miller; great-grandchildren Levi, Austin and Kinley Miller; granddaughter Fara Miller Underwood and husband Matt; great-grandchildren Maci and Mitchell Underwood; grandson Heath Miller and wife Alicia; great-granddaughter Heather Miller Hays and husband Tyler; great-great-grandchildren Hadley and Trace Hays; great-grandson Dillon Miller; granddaughter Brittany Miller Rabb; and great-grandchildren Travis, Clayton and Kyndall Rabb. She is also survived by cousin T.J. Webster and many other cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Linda Theis and the caring staff at Waldon Court for their compassionate care of Merrilee during these last few years and for the love and support of her Church of Christ family.
Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Dec. 2 at Waldrope-Hatfield-Hawthorne Funeral Home, 307 E. Sandstone in Llano, (325) 247-4300. A funeral service is 2 p.m. Dec. 3 at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Bluffton Cemetery.
The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Hope Haus, P.O. Box 883, Llano, TX 78643; the Llano Food Pantry, P.O. Box 204, Llano, TX 78643; or the Pontotoc Fire Department, P.O. Box 66, Pontotoc, TX 76869.
Email whhfuneral1@verizon.net with condolences.