Gertrude Miller

Gertrude L. Miller (Nee Crane), age 94, of Zion, Illinois passed away peacefully at Rolling Hills Manor nursing home February 1st, 2011. She was born May 29, 1916 to Cecil W. and Christine L. (Rundell) Crane in Zion where she grew up and graduated from Zion parochial and high schools. Trude' attended the School of Beauty Culture of Chicago and operated her own beauty salon during the early years of her marriage to Cecil D. Miller. They were married August 21st, 1937 and celebrated fifty four years together before his death in June of 1992. This marriage produced five children, thirteen grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren. Trude' was a girl scout leader or cub scout den mother for seventeen years. She was a band mother, schoolroom mother, co-president of the North School PTA, a life member of the Victory Memorial Hospital auxiliary, a gray lady for Downey Hospital, and a board member of the Red Cross, working with the youth auxiliary. As a member of the First United Methodist Church of Waukegan since 1941, she was a Sunday school teacher, a ladies circle member, and the lay leader for three years. Trude' served as an election judge, supported Camp Jorn YMCA and Homes for Children of Northem Illinois, was a longtime member of the Waukegan Women's Club and helped organize the Lake County Art League, She also organized her neighborhood "Watch for Crime Prevention" and the Waukegan Exchange Club Ladies Auxiliary. Gardening, music, travel, the family auto dealership (Lincoln-Mercury and later Dodge), and her extended family were some of her other interests. Survivors include her five children, Myrna L. Christakis (Ed) Cox of Cape Coral, FL, Dexter C. (Laura) Miller of Waukegan, IL Gilbert B. (Judy) Miller of Waukegan, II, C. Bruce (Karen) Miller of Hendersonville, TN, and Sherri K. Miller of Fort Lauderdale, FL; two sisters, Valerie Young of Anna, IL. and Cecelia Crawford of Gurnee, lL; brother-in-law Robert (Michelle) Miller of Lewisville, TX and the thirty grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Predeceasing her was one grandchild, Cynthia Lu Christakis. Memorials can be given to Camp Jorn YMCA of Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin, First United Methodist Church of Waukegan, or the Rolling Hills Nursing Home of Zion where she received such good care for seven years. A celebration of life memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2011 at First United Methodist Church, 128 N. Martin Luther King Ave., Waukegan, IL with Pastor William G. Owen and Pastor Emeritus Gehl Devore officiating. Visitation will be prior to the service at the church.