Obituary of Delores Norton Miller

Delores Norton Miller, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at her lake house, surrounded by her loving family on the evening of December 12, 2017.

Pallbearers: Grandsons: Trent Miller, Jeff Miller, Matt Miller, Brad Glenn, Chad Glenn, Zack King, and Zachary Ross.

Honorary pallbearers: Grandchildren, Directors, and staff of Hopkins-Rains Farm Bureau, Martin Springs Water Board, and Reilly Springs Cemetery Board.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 15, 2017 at First Baptist Church with Pastor Mark Bryant and Bro. Fred Lewis officiating. Interment will follow at Reilly Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, December 14, 2017 at West Oaks Funeral Home.

Delores was a devoted Christian where she raised her children to love the Lord and she touched the lives of everyone she met and was an inspiration to us all.  She was loving, thoughtful, generous and faithfully displayed a devotion and love for her family, friends and her FBC Sunday School Class.

We are deeply grateful to God for the gift of her life and devotion to Christ and her family. 

Born in Yantis, Texas in a modest country home, on March 3rd, 1931, to Horace and Jeraldeen Carter Norton.  She graduated from Yantis High School at 16 years old as Valedictorian of her class.  Delores married the love of her life, James Earl Miller on August 18th, 1948 in Indiana while pipelining with their parents. James preceded her in death on February 8th, 2002 after 54 devoted years to each other.  They were a true love story and enjoyed every day they had together. They raised their children to love God and their country and to live each day to the fullest.  

James and Delores traveled the United States while they were working on the pipeline. After Jerry, Rodney, and Yvonne were born, they bought land and she worked right by her husband’s side on their family dairy in Reilly Springs. Then six years later Tonya was born and their family was complete. They retired and enjoyed traveling, square dancing and having family gatherings at the private lake and cabin they built in Reilly Springs.

She was an avid “quilter” with the Yantis Busy Bee quilting club and Bright Star Garden Club for many years.  “Mamaw” made all the kids, grandkids and great-grandkids quilts for special occasions like graduations.  She also donated quilts for fundraisers to help others.  Delores enjoyed raising flowers, peas and pecans at her home in Sulphur Springs and giving them to family and friends.

Delores succeeded her husband after his death as Board of Director member on the Hopkins-Rains Farm Bureau Board, the Martin Springs Water Board, and Reilly Springs Cemetery Board.  She also volunteered at Hopkins County Memorial Hospital for many years and anonymously helped people in need. She proudly accepted the prestigious Pioneer Award from the Texas Farm Bureau to display next to the one James had received.

Special thanks to Dr. Darren Arnecke, Crysta Hooker, RN, Legacy Hospice staff, and Dr. Tim Cardile. Especially loving caretakers, Joyce Ponder and devoted granddaughter Dawna Modrall that went above and beyond to make her comfortable and happy during her dementia illness.

Delores is survived by her children, Jerry E. Miller and wife, Phyllis of Yantis, Rodney Miller, Yvonne King and husband Roy, and Tonya Ross and husband James, of Sulphur Springs. Grandkids, great-grandkids, and great-great-grandkids, Amy King Anthony and husband Craig, Ashley Early and husband Robert, Sierra Sells, Levi Fairchild, Kari King, Saylor Nuckolls, Sawyer Smith, Brad Glenn, Chad Glenn and wife Erin, Zack King, Shannon Colfax, Aaron Miller, Dillan Colfax, Cohner Colfax, Cayci Colfax, Easton, Hynzlee, and Lynken, Brandi Ross Hancock and husband Shaun, Isabella Hancock, Michael Hancock, Zachary Ross and wife Misty, Larson Ross, Aaron Smith, Lacey Ross McClendon and husband Brent, Slayton McClendon, Elle McClendon, Tammy Miller Spellman and husband Jay, Alexa Spellman, Jordyn Spellman, Trent Miller and wife Kim, Kate Miller, Chloe Miller, Jeff Miller and wife Jodee, Dawna Modrall, Chris Mott, Jayden Modrall, Brison Modrall, Matt Miller and wife Leslie, Jamie Miller Mattison and husband Matthew, Flynt Miller, Grey Miller, Cameron Davis and Maddox Culpepper, nieces, nephews, and her faithful spoiled companion, Roxi.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Eudell Norton and Ray Norton and sister-in-law, Dorothy Norton, great granddaughter, Star Nuckolls and great-grandson, Michael Hancock.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the “Star Nuckolls Foundation” in memory of Star, care of Ricky Reynolds, CNB, P.O. Box 495, Sulphur Springs, TX 75483.

Arrangements are under the direction of West Oaks Funeral Home. www.westoaksfuneralhome.com