Dewitt Obits

Vernette E. Miller of Monticello

Vernette E. Miller, 97, of Monticello, passed away at 4:51 p.m., Thursday, March 21, 2012 at Carle Hospital, Urbana. Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Monticello United Methodist Church with Rev. Dan Seibert officiating. Visitation will be held from 10:00-11:30 a.m., Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the Mackey-Wright Funeral Home. Interment will be in Croninger Cemetery, Cisco. Vernette was born September 14, 1914, in Edwards County, IL, the daughter of Thomas and Lena (Ellen) Mitchell. She married Gerald E. "Jerry" Miller on August 15, 1939 in Fairfax, VA. He passed away on May 17, 1971. Surviving are her children; Janice (James) Olson of Crown Point, IN, Susan (Charles) Maltese of Elmhurst, and Dennis (Suzanne) Miller of Greendale, WI, daughter-in-law; Kandra Miller of Urbana, 8 grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and 2 step great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one son (Walter T. Miller), 2 brothers, and 2 sisters. Vernette graduated from Albion High School in 1932 and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1936. She attended graduate school at Columbia University, NYC during the summers of 1938 and 1939. She received a Masters degree from UIUC in 1965. Vernette taught high school Home Economics in Superior, WI, Argenta-Oreana, and Maroa-Forsyth High Schools. Vernette was a member of the Monticello United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School for many years and was active in the United Methodist Women, Ruth Circle. She attended exercise class there until she was 95. She was also active in the Monticello Women's Club and the Piatt County Association for Home and Community Education. She volunteered at the Piatt County Nursing Home for 30 years. She traveled extensively both within the United States and abroad and went on 27 Elderhostel (Road Scholar) Tours. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Monticello United Methodist Church or the Piatt County Nursing Home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.mackey-wrightfuneralhome.com Obituary written by family members.