Marion Sylvia Gordon Miller passed away peacefully on November 6, 2016 in St. Louis, Missouri. Marion was 85 years old.
Marion was born to the late Ruth and Douglas Gordon in Trenton, New Jersey on March 1, 1931. She was the youngest of five children, Kathryn, Ruth, Douglas Jr. (Bud), and Warren (Googie).
Marion graduated from Clifford Scott High School in East Orange, New Jersey in 1948. She received her education at an historically black college, Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama, where she received her B.A. degree in psycholopgy in 1953 and was a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Marion’s sister Ruth Richards had settled in St. Louis with her family and Marion visited her sister and her family the summer of 1952. During that fateful visit Marion attended a Chi Delta Mu Fraternity ball and was introduced to Jack L. Miller, a dental student at Howard University in Washington. D.C. The two struck up a friendship and began a long-distance courtship which culminated in marriage. The two were married on August 24, 1957 in Trenton, New Jersey. Marion and Jack L. Miller, D.D.S. lived in St. Louis and were married 36 years until Jack’s death on August 6, 1994. Three children, Joan Kathryn, Jane Alexandria and Audrey Frances were born to this union.
Marion was active in many civic and social clubs. She was a charter member of the St. Louis Chapter of the Smart Set (1970) and the St. Louis Chapter of the Girlfriends (1972). Marion was also a member of the St. Louis Chapter of the Links and reached platinum status. She was also a member of the St. Louis Chapter of the Circle-ets, and was active in the mother’s club at Villa Duchesne, and a member of Christ the King Church.
Marion is survived by their three daughters, Joan Miller of St. Louis, Jane Miller Brown of Washington, D.C., and Audrey Miller, M.D. of Columbia, South Carolina, and her sister Ruth Richards of Boston, Massachusetts. Her memory also will be treasured by nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members and many lifelong family friends.
Marion’s wish was for cremation. Those wishing to remember Marion with gifts are asked to contribute in the name of Marion Gordon Miller to:
Talladega College
Attn: Office of Institutional Advancement
627 West Battle Street
Talladega, Alabama, 35160
A funeral Mass will be held Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 10 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church, 7316 Balson Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63130.
