Joan D. Miller

January 2, 1934 ~ November 28, 2012

Soldotna, AK resident, Joan D. Miller, 78, died Wednesday, November 28, 2012, at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna.

A Memorial Service will be held next summer in Soldotna, AK.

Joan was born January 2, 1934, in Kincaid, KS. She worked at the Diamond 5 and 10 cent store in Ephrata, WA from 1952 to 1953, and then for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph from 1953 to 1956. She moved to Soldotna in 1994. Joan was a member of the Peninsula Christian Center in Soldotna and enjoyed quilting, painting, ceramics and greenhouse flowers. "Joan was the greatest wife of 61 years that I could have ever hoped for. Joan was my partner in anything we took a notion to do. Together, we built two homes and remodeled three. Our last home was our little dream home on the banks of the Kenai River. Joan was a stay-at-home mother and loved raising our three loving children, Gary, Lori and Jay. In her younger years, she was known for painting pictures, teaching ceramics and her campfire girls. After moving to Alaska, she was known for her quilt making and her embroidering work at the church and the pinewood derby. She had fast cars and loved to win. She had more fun than the kids. Joan will always be remembered for her laughter, big smiles and hugs. Sweetheart, I will miss you and see you in Heaven... I love you, Earl" her husband wrote.

She was preceded in death by her mother and step-father, Edith and Elry Stover; sisters, Claudine Jones and Pauline Martin; her father, Carl Guffey; and brother, Carol Guffey. Joan is survived by her husband of 61 years, Earl Miller of Soldotna, AK; sons and daughter-in-law, Gary Miller of Corvallis, OR and Jay and Janis Miller of Everett, WA; daughter and son-in-law, Lori and Joe Cain of Everett, WA; aunt, Joan Upton of Independence, MO; and granddaughter, Debra Miller, grandson-in-law, Guy Gonzales and great-granddaughter, Ariana Gonzales, all of Soldotna, AK.

Memorial donations may be made to Cook Inlet Academy - Sports Program, 45872 Kalifornsky Beach Road, Soldotna, AK 99669. Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai, AK. Please sign her online guestbook at www.alaskanfuneral.com.