Marguerite J. Novay Miller Obituary (1923

Marguerite Miller, 94, of Chandler, AZ passed away Sunday, December 17, 2017 at Stonebridge Family Care in Gilbert, AZ. Funeral services will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 30, 2017 at the Cranston Family Funeral Home (formerly Raymond Funeral Home) in Fairfield with Pastor Dennis Miller officiating. Burial with military honors will be held in the Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield immediately following the service. Visitation will begin at noon on Friday, December 29, 2017 at the Cranston Family Funeral Home in Fairfield with the family present to greet friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions in Marguerite's honor may be directed to the "Women in Military Service for America Memorial" by visiting www.womensmemorial.org. Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.cranstonfamilyfuneralhome.com. Marguerite J. Novay Miller was born May 6, 1923 in Memphis, TN to Thomas and Mary David Novay. Marguerite grew up and attended Bartlett High School, graduating with the class of 1941. Upon graduation, she began working for Fisher Aircraft as a riveter on the assembly line for the B-25 aircrafts. In July of 1944 she enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was stationed at the Columbia Air Base in South Carolina. It is here where she met and fell in love with Merle Miller who was also stationed there. She proudly served in the Air Corps until her honorable discharge in the summer of 1945. Marguerite and Merle settled in Fairfield, IA and became the proud parents to three children: Nancy, Mary and Merle Jr. Marguerite kept busy as a mother and homemaker. In 1978, they moved to Arizona where she called home for the remainder of her life. Marguerite was always proud of her country and her service in support and defense of it. She was a charter member for the Women in Military Service for America Memorial in Virginia. Later in life she was given a personal guided tour of the memorial by Brigadier General Wilma Vaught (ret) which was something she cherished. She was a loving wife, mother, sister, and friend who will be deeply missed. Marguerite was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Merle Miller, Sr. (2015); three sisters, Christine Sowell, Theresa Harrison, and Elizabeth Cunningham; three brothers, Tommy Novay, Paul Ray Novay, and Stanley Novay. Left to honor her memory are her children, Nancy (Ken) Jinks, Mary (Mark) Wood, and Merle Jr. (Julie) Miller of Chandler, AZ, as well as three grandsons, four great grandchildren, and one sister, Cecilia Waterbury.