Mary Miller

Although her life came to an end too soon, Mary Miller made a significant impact in the lives of everyone she met. She was kind and compassionate with a huge heart and a spirit of generosity that had no equal. Mary was a devoted wife and mother, but she really thrived as a grandmother as her grandchildren were her greatest source of pride and joy. Never one to let life get the best of her, she faced whatever came her way with both strength and courage that were truly inspiring. Mary was blessed with many gifts and talents, and she loved nothing more than sharing them with those around her. Life will never be the same without her here, but she leaves behind a timeless legacy that will be proudly carried on by those who follow in her footsteps.

It seems only fitting that Marys journey began during a time that was as vibrant as she was. It was the 1950s when James Dean made young girls swoon on the silver screen, Elvis Presley introduced the world of music to rock n roll, and by the time the decade was ending we had welcomed Alaska and Hawaii as our 49th and 50th states. Amidst this exciting time was a time of excitement in the lives of Lowell L. and Vivian B. (Rowe) Sharp for a much different reason as they were pleased to announce the birth of the healthy baby girl they named Mary Kim on July 12, 1954, in Warsaw, Indiana.

Growing up in Warsaw alongside her brother, Lowell, Mary was a young girl of her generation. She attended local schools and as a teen did some modeling work and enjoyed listening to music and was into fashion. As a student at Warsaw High School, Mary was also a cheerleader. After graduating from high school in 1972, she took some art classes at Ancilla College. While her brother was in the Vietnam War, Mary enjoyed writing to him and his friends, and it was while growing up that she discovered her lifelong love for animals.

Life was forever changed for Mary when she met and later married Gregg A. Holloway in 1975. Together they were blessed with the births of two children, Camilla and Clint. The family was dealt a devastating blow with Greggs death in November of 1979.

Brighter days were on the horizon for Mary when she got to know a fellow coworker named Michael Anthony Miller at United Telephone Company where she had been working as a drafter. They began dating, and with a desire to establish a life together they were married on May 19, 1982. Mike adopted Marys children and loved them as his own. She and her children moved to Mikes home on his familys farm in Columbia City.

Throughout her life Mary kept busy with her many diverse interests. She was a talented artist who loved to draw, and as an artistic person she wrote some poetry and also had a few short stories published. Together Mary and Mike had a quilting business called Pufferbellys. With a flair for making things look good, she even made greeting cards from dried and pressed flowers. Mary enjoyed gardening as well as she grew flowers, vegetables, and some herbs, too. Her family always raved about her cooking, and she effortlessly learned to make amazing Italian food when she married Mike. Mary was a diehard Norte Dame football fan and enjoyed going with Mike and the family to the games. For years she was a member of St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church in Columbia City and with a lifelong love for animals, Mary was a proud supporter of the ASPCA.

Later in life Mary experienced both peaks and valleys in her lifes journey. Always caring and nurturing, she cared for both her parents and Mikes parents as they grew older and needed some additional care. In 2005, Mary was deeply saddened when her husband, Mike, passed away. She was delighted to become a grandmother, however, and it was easy to see that she cherished her grandchildren. With a granddaughter who has both Down Syndrome and Autism, Mary became very involved in both the Down Syndrome and Autism communities. She also learned sign language. Life again changed for Mary when she met Joe Snyder while at the laundromat one day. They started seeing each other and later got engaged.

All who knew Mary Miller would agree that she was truly extraordinary in every way. She was a woman who accomplished so much of which of which to be proud, yet her greatest source of pride and joy was found in the family she treasured. Mary was never one to worry about the things of this world, rather, her focus was on how she could care for and bless those around her. Deeply loved, she will be forever missed.

Mary Kim Miller, age 61, of South Whitley, Indiana, passed away Friday, April 1, 2016, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Ft. Wayne. Marys family includes her daughter, Cami Calhoon, of Columbia City; son, Clint Miller, of Ft. Wayne; step-children, Christina (Jesse) Salazar and Tony Miller; brother, Lowell F. (Jenny) Sharp of Cottageville, South Carolina; in-laws, Mary (Lee) Neher, Ed (Wendy) Miller, both of Columbia City, Kathy (Mike) McManama, of Decatur, Becky Ward and Andrea Panico, both of Ft. Wayne; fiance, Joe Snyder, of South Whitley; and grandchildren, Ellyssa Calhoon, Maiyah Calhoon, Conner Calhoon, Lauryne Calhoon, Brodie Miller, Peyton Miller, Michael Salazar, Lewis Salazar, Kaitlin Calhoon and Anthony Salazar. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Lowell and Vivian Sharp; husband, Mike Miller, along with his parents, Bernard A. and Theresa C. Miller.

Visitation will be held from 3-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, 2016, at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home with Father Gary Sigler of St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church officiating. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Humane Society of Whitley County or Interfaith Missions (The Light House). To send Marys family condolences, visit www.demoneygrimes.com .