Avis Miller

Area resident Avis D. Miller died Saturday, May 14th at the Willapa Harbor Care Center in Raymond, she was 102. She was born March 7, 1914 in Seattle, the first daughter of Clyde and Goldie Wilson. After a failed attempt at farming in Montana, the family moved to South Bend where her father was foreman of the planing mill in Raymond for more than 30 years. Avis was an outstanding student and a cheerleader at South Bend High School, graduating in 1931. To accept a scholarship at Wilson Business College, she hitchhiked to Seattle, riding most of the way in a donut truck. After obtaining the top score on the Civil Service Exam, Avis became secretary to the Mayor of Seattle, a position she held for many years. In her job, she met many celebrities, movie stars, authors, sports figures, and politicians that stopped by to see the mayor. In a memorable episode, she took Eleanor Roosevelt to lunch when the Mayor was delayed returning to his office. Avis met and married Al Edelbrock, also from Seattle. They had three sons, Gary (1939-2014), Mark (1944-2009), and Craig (b. 1951). Al died in 1969 and a decade later Avis married Reg Miller. They lived for several years in McMinnville, OR. After Reg died, Avis lived in Rochester, WA, then moved back to Raymond. She has been at Alder House Assisted Living in South Bend for the past several years. She is preceded in death by her brothers Harold and Curt Wilson and by two of her sons. She is survived by her younger sister Carol Lewis (Scappoose, OR), daughters-in-law Pat Edelbrock (Salem, OR) and Phyllis Edelbrock (Tacoma, WA), seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Known for her sharp wit, Avis was an avid reader and was mentally clear to the end. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the South Bend Public Library, where Avis lost a book she checked out in 1925 and always felt bad about it. A memorial service will be held at Stoller’s Mortuary in Raymond at 11am on Thursday, May 26th. Her ashes will be inurned at Fern Hill Cemetery in Menlo. Cremation arrangements were in care of Stoller’s Mortuary in Raymond. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Avis Miller please visit our Sympathy Store.