Abbie Louise Miller, a resident of Great Bend since 1945, entered her eternal home Friday, Nov. 27, 2015. Abbie and her husband Dean moved to Great Bend after Dean returned from serving in Italy during World War II. They were married June 14, 1943, in Rapid City, S.D.
Born to William Samuel and Leela Knox, Abbie grew up with her other three siblings on the family farm located in Piedmont. She was active in various activities during her school years in addition to helping her family on the farm. She was on the debate team and played the violin in the high school orchestra. Abbie graduated valedictorian of her high school class.
She was a member of the First Christian Church of Piedmont. She was pleased to tell others that she, her sister and brothers were all baptized in the river that flowed through their family farm.
Abbie attended Emporia State University where she was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha social sorority. She earned a life certificate at Emporia State University and later earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Fort Hays State University. Abbie taught in Eureka, as well as in Claflin and Great Bend. She also did private tutoring.
Abbie was involved in the Great Bend community. She was active in Athenian Club and Panhellenic. She served on the board of directors of Golden Belt Community Concert Association and the Great Bend Children’s Learning Center. Since 1990, she volunteered over 6,000 hours at the Central Kansas Medical Center. She also volunteered at the Heartland Cancer Center. She was a charter member of the Great Bend Country Club and was very involved as a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ where she served for more than sixty years in a variety of capacities. Abbie had a deep and abiding faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
She is survived by her two daughters, Vikki (Robert) Crouch of Saint Joseph, Mo., and Paula (Raymond) Middleton of the Woodlands, Texas; grandchildren Elisa (Jeffrey) Tomich, Melanie Middleton, Dean Crouch (April), Robert Middleton (Patty), and Lauren Middleton; great-grandchildren Gabriella and Henry Tomich, Brighton Abbie Crouch and Wesley Middleton. Abbie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Dean; her two brothers Robert Knox of Piedmont and William Knox of Omaha; and her sister Mary Brown of Eureka.
There will be a celebration of life service at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 1, at Bryant Funeral Home in Great Bend, with the Rev. John Grummon officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to service time, Tuesday at the funeral home. A private graveside service will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Eureka, where she will be buried alongside her husband in the Knox family plot. Memorials are suggested to the Golden Belt Community Concert Association Endowment at Golden Belt Community Foundation or St. Rose Health Center Endowment for Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice, in care of Bryant Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net
                     
Funeral arrangements provided by    
Bryant Funeral Home**         
1425 Patton Road       
Great Bend, KS.   67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Nov. 29, 2015