Ina Irene Miller

Ina Irene Miller, daughter of Harvey E. and Beulah (Bunch) Richards, was born on August 8, 1921, in southeast Sheridan County, Kansas, and departed this life Friday, March 22, 2013, at Sheridan County Long Term Care in Hoxie, KS, at the age of 91. Ina was the fourth of six children. She grew up in Sheridan County and attended rural schools. On September 18, 1938, Ina was united in marriage to Verlin Lee Miller. Verlin and Ina lived and worked in various communities in Colorado until Verlin joined the U.S. Navy in 1944. After Verlin returned from the service in 1946, the family returned to Hoxie and remained in the community. They owned and operated the Tumble Inn for a number of years until Verlin began work as the Sheridan County Weed Supervisor. Then Ina held various jobs in the community including working at the Hoxie State Bank and Mahanna Pharmacy. She also did some babysitting. To this union, three children were born: Shirley Lee, Ronald Verlin, and Edgar Byron. Verlin died on February 24, 2008. They would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary that next September. For many years, Ina kept score for bowling teams at the Hoxie Lanes. She enjoyed the time there and had many friends through that experience. Ina was an avid card player. She enjoyed playing pitch, pinochle and poker. A family gathering wasn’t complete until Grandma had played at least one game of cards. She could stay up as late as the last great-grandchild to finish “one more game.” After Verlin died, she moved to Ridgewood Manor. Her friends there became like family - and the card playing continued. Ina was a lifetime member of the Hoxie United Methodist Church and actively attended services during her later years. The members of her church became yet another family that meant so much to her. Ina was a firm believer in the values of Alcoholics Anonymous. She would still read the books given out to spouses every morning up until her eyesight began to fail and she couldn’t read the small print. The sunshine of Ina’s life was her great-grandkids and great-great-grandkids. She was determined to meet every last one of them before she died. Great-great grandson Jack got to visit with her via “face-time” only a few weeks before she died. She always looked forward to family visits from each and every one. She will be fondly remembered by sons Ron Miller and his wife, Nancy, of Rudy, Arkansas, Ed Miller and his wife, Rhonda, and son-in-law David Cooper also of Hoxie. Her older sister, Opal Kenney of Kingman, Arizona, survives her and will miss talking with her by phone. She also leaves nine grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and many friends. Ina was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Verlin, two brothers, Dale Richards and Junior Richards, two sisters, Elzina Diehl and Helen Breeden, and her daughter Shirley Cooper. Ina was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Verlin, two brothers, Dale Richards and Junior Richards, two sisters, Elzina Diehl and Helen Breeden, and her daughter Shirley Cooper.