Marie Ethel Miller was born July 26, 1917, to William and Essie Belle Durbin in Taylorville Illinois, where she grew up.  During the war years, she worked at Johnson Motors in the Zion Illinois area as an inspector.

In 1936 she was married to Walter E. Miller. The couple had four children: Walter Lewis, Essie Marie, Vernetta Louise, and Charles Clifton. The family moved to Colorado in 1946 because of health issues of one of the children. Unfortunately, Marie was unable to tolerate the high altitude, so the family moved to Farlin, Iowa, in 1950.

In nearby Jefferson Marie found work at the truck stop for a time, and later at the Redwood Inn.  She was employed by American Diversified, a tire stud factory, where she worked until it closed. She then followed a longtime dream and opened up her own cafe in Farlin, which was a great success for ten years, after which time she retired. She was 62. Several years later she took up working again, this time in the kitchen at the Greene County Farm care facility, where they needed part time help while an employee was ill. She left that job so she and her husband could travel.

She and Walter began wintering in Yuma, AZ, where they met many friends. They continued this for several years until their health made the drive too difficult. They sold their home and moved in with their daughter Essie.

Marie was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Jefferson, Iowa, and of Catholic Daughters of America. She also belonged to Greene County Campers Club.

Marie Ethel Miller passed away on May 7, 2008, at St. Anthony's Hospital in Carroll, Iowa, at the age of 90. She was preceded in death by her parents; her step father Lewis Gracey; her husband Walter in 1998; her son Walter (Wally) and three granddaughters Lori, Peggy, and Nancy, who died in the fire; her sister Nora Bader; and two brothers: Charles Durbin, and Lawrence Durbin.

Survivors include daughters Essie Kowaleski of Jefferson and Vernetta Zimmerline of Des Moines, Iowa; son Charles (Chuck) Miller of Bellevue Nebraska; eight grandchildren, 21 great grand children, and two great great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Services were arranged by Slininger-Rossow Funeral Homes, Inc., of Jefferson and Grand Junction