Grace M. Miller

Grace M. Miller, born March 5, 1924 in Guilford NY, passed away on January 30,2026 at the Hospice House in Vero Beach, Florida. Until then, she had resided in her own home with her beloved dog, Tommy. She married Army Captain George Miller in 1947 and remained in Guilford to raise their daughter and son. Grace graduated from Beauty School in Binghamton, NY maintaining her license for over 80 years. She worked as a beautician and barber at the Oxford Veterans Home and Medical Center in Oxford, NY. Grace was also an expert seamstress sewing Brassieres in a factory. She loved painting, decorating, gardening, was an avid bowler, and played many kinds of card games with friends and family. She made numerous ceramics with her own kiln in her crafting room. Her love for painting and wallpapering began by working with her father as a young girl, who was a painter by trade. Her exceptional skills for building enabled her to remodel many homes and sheds; showing up with her own ladder and tools to take charge. She lived in Guilford with a huge extended family, and a long succession of pets, including a skunk, iguana, raccoons, owls, dogs, cats and even a goose for many years before relocating to Waterloo, NY, and finally retiring in Vero Beach to join her daughter and grandchildren. Grace was a long time member of the Episcopal Church, American Legion Auxiliary, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and Order of the Eastern Star. She traveled to many places; Germany to visit her son on active duty in the Army, a train through the Canadian Rockies with her granddaughter, Hawaii, Hollywood, California , Mexico, and Scotland. In her 80’s she worked at SAMS Club as a greeter and in the jewelry department. She had very special friends whose visits were highlights in her daily life. Grace is survived by her daughter, Ivana Gerhard, son, Jim and (Fran) Miller, sister, Doris Banfield, grandchildren, Deborah and (Dan) Soroka, Diane and (Ty) Fannin and Jason Miller. Also, great grandchildren, Rylee Fannin, Nicholas and Jacqueline Soroka, and niece, Carol and (Tom) Rizzuto. She was predeceased by her parents, Percy and Minnie McLagan, husband, George, brother-in-law, Art Banfield, and grandsons Shawn Miller and Brian Schmitz. Grace embraced life and relationships; maintaining many long-time friendships. Her friends and family held fabulous parties for her milestone birthdays including her 99th and 100th to celebrate her life and love of family and friends. In memory of Grace, the family welcomes memorial donations in lieu of flowers to the American Legion Auxiliary at https://donate.legion-aux.org or VFW at vfw.org

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.