Elizabeth W. "Beth" Miller

Elizabeth W. Miller, 96, of Rockford passed away Thursday, April 10, 2014 at Wesley Willows Health Center. Born December 31, 1917, in Greenwood, Arkansas, the daughter of Rev. Harvey L. and Annie (Pritchard) Waters. Beth earned a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Southern Illinois University and taught elementary education in Illinois schools for 27 years. She married Arthur Bert Miller on June 8, 1940 in Parsons, Tennessee; he predeceased her on July 28, 1996. Beth was devoted to her Southern Baptist faith and was a member of First Baptist Church of Machesney Park. She volunteered at church libraries, the Mental Health Center Library in Springfield for 13 years and at the Wesley Willows library for 7 years. Beth was also a member of the National Education Association and the Teacher Retirement Association. The Miller family would like to give a special thank you to Dr. Dale Gray, the nursing staff at Wesley Willows Health Center and VNA Hospice.

Survived by her son, Dr. Roger (Susan) Miller of Rockford; daughter-in-law, Deanna F. (Grady) Sikes of Mobile, AL; sister-in-law, Elaine Waters of San Lorenzo, CA; grandsons, Jeffrey L. (Patricia) Miller of Huntsville, AL, Jonathon L. Miller of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and Brian J. (Mary) Miller of Tulsa, OK; granddaughters, Christine L. Miller of Waterloo, IL, Melissa A. (Brian) Temke of Milwaukee, WI and Kristin E. (Bart) Castleman of Dyersburg, TN; step grandchildren, Barbara (Mark) Lyons of Minneapolis, MN, Leslie (Timothy) Douglas of Mobile, AL and Jason (Ellen) Louis of Mobile, Al; great-grandchildren, Erica, Andrew, Anna, Matthew, James, Justin, Myles, Noelle, Billy and Jessica; and numerous nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her parents, step mother, Lillian Jenkins Waters, son, Gene Bruce Miller, brother, Lee T. Waters and sisters, Virginia Ruth Johnson and Rachel Juanita Hines.

Funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, April 14, 2014 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Riverside Chapel, 3910 North Rockton Avenue, Rockford, IL. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service on Monday at the funeral home. Graveside service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 in Salem Cemetery, Carrier Mills, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Beth's name to the Good Samaritan Fund at Wesley Willows, 4141 North Rockton Avenue, Rockford, IL 61103 or to First Baptist Church of Machesney Park, 710 Harlem Road, Machesney Park, IL 61115. To express online condolences, please visit: www.fitzgeraldfh.com.