Mary K. Miller, 71, of Mendota, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015, at Mendota Lutheran Home.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 2, at Holy Cross Church in Mendota with Father Tom Otto officiating. Burial will be Holy Cross Cemetery in Mendota. Visitation will be from 1 until 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1, at Merritt Funeral Home in Mendota.
Born July 5, 1943, in Mendota, Mrs. Miller was the daughter of Raymond and Mary Ellen (Ross) Lipke. She married Donald Miller on Aug. 15, 1970, at Holy Cross Church in Mendota.
She graduated from Mendota High School in 1961 and Illinois State University in Normal in 1965, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education. She taught P.E. at Tremper High School in Kenosha, Wis., Dixon High School in Dixon and Mendota High School in Mendota, where she also served as volleyball coach from 1987 until her retirement in 1994.
After her retirement, Mrs. Miller was employed by North Central Behavioral Health Systems, where she conducted health safety classes in local schools. She also worked with the drug and alcohol coalition in Ottawa. Most recently, she was employed at Mendota Area Senior Services, organizing senior center activities.
She was a member of the Illinois Teachers Association and Holy Cross Church in Mendota.
Survivors include her husband, of Mendota; one son, Griffin (Kim) Miller of Mendota; one daughter, Lindsay (Jeff) Hilty of Englewood, Ohio; three granddaughters, Mea Miller and Eva and Alexis Hilty; one sister, Ann (Jerry) Yendro of Peru; one brother-in-law, Bruce (Shirley) Miller of LaMoille; her very dear friend, Mary Stephenitch of Mendota; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Mrs. Miller was preceded in death by her parents.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mrs. Miller's name may be directed to Mendota Area Senior Services.
Pallbearers will be Griffin Miller, Jeff Hilty, Dan Yendro, Todd Yendro, Mark Miller and Bruce Miller. Honorary pallbearers will be Lindsay Hilty, Kim Miller, Sara Roskilly and Mary Stephenitch.