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Miller, Mary M. (1897-1963)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 Sep 26 p. 3
Birth date: 1897 Jan 6
text of obituary:
Long-Time Hesston College Teacher Dies
Hesston, Kan. — Mary M. Miller, instructor in English and foreign languages at Hesston College for more than30 years, died Saturday morning at Bethel Deaconess Hospital in Newton. She had been in failing health for some months.
Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon at the Hesston Mennonite Church, and burial was made in the Protection Mennonite cemetery at Protection, Kan.
Miss Miller was born at West Liberty, Ohio on Jan. 6, 1897, the daughter of Noah E. and Sophronia Miller. The family lived at various places in Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas before moving to Hesston in 1920.
After teaching in rural and city elementary schools, Miss Miller graduated from Hesston College in 1926 and began teaching at the college the same year. She received the master's degree from the University of Kansas in 1928. Her service at Hesston included eight years as dean of women. Since her retirement in 1961 she had lived at Schowalter Villa.
Survivors include six brothers and two sisters.
(A memorial tribute to Miss Miller will appear in a later issue of the review.)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 Oct 3 p. 11
text of obituary:
Mary Miller (1897-1963)
(Funeral services for Miss Mary Miller, 66, English teacher at Hesston College for more than 30 years, were conducted Sept. 24. She died in Newton on Sept. 21, a victim of cancer. — Editor.)
TO VISIT in the home of Mary Miller was an experience in gracious living. Her many friends scattered throughout the world will recall the variety of subjects that were discussed over a cup of tea.
The books, blue willow china, the Japanese shoes, a bust of Dickens, the tapestry with an English hunting party capturing the wild boar, the open desk in the old fashioned cupboard, a statuette from France — all spoke of her rich experiences. Somehow she seemed to embrace the world and hold it close. The student, the neighbor, the lovely and unlovely, young and old sought her friendship and wise counsel.
She loved solitude, for her creative nature longed to express itself. For people who are bored she had little sympathy; her thoughts were her companions.
MARY MILLER, instructor in English at Hesston College, brought inspiration and an infectious enthusiasm to the classroom. She fanned the spark of interest in literature and life into a burning flame. She discovered the 'old' classics as a student at the University of Kansas and was so consumed with interest that she found herself a secluded corner and read avidly during an entire summer — far above the required assignments.
Her discerning mind seemed ever busy — sorting and classifying — storing for future reference. She recognized the frailties and foibles of her fellowmen, yet loved them. She reminded her students often that everyone is given the same amount of time; it is what the individual does with that time that makes the difference. She was impatient with the procrastinator, and his late paper was promptly and clearly marked with an F.
GROWING UP in a family of 14 children, Mary learned much about child care, especially through taking care of her little sister. She turned this learning to practical use as an elementary teacher. In her two years of relief service with MCC at Chalon-sur-Saone in France, she worked with children.
During a sabbatical in the summer of 1953, she went to London at the time of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Her bulging scrapbook speaks of her delight in this educational tour.
Mary Miller was almost a tradition at Hesston. Her spirit is a part of this institution as much as bricks and mortar are parts of the buildings. She received most of her high school training at the academy, and her B. A. degree from Hesston College. She taught in the classroom for many years and served as dean of women for eight years. She is the author of “A Pillar of Cloud,” the story of Hesston College.
NOT ONLY to the school, but to the church as well, did she contribute her creative talents. She found time to teach Sunday school, and to write articles, short stories, dramas and Bible school materials. Her refreshing views made her chapel talks meaningful and inspirational.
One often sensed that Mary was never alone — she walked with God. She always had great interest in Bible study, but especially in the last years her spiritual perception and interest deepened and found frequent expression. As she said, she brought her longings to the foot of the cross, where she sought and found meaning for her life.
When Mary realized that the end of her earthly life was drawing near, she expressed regret and having to leave so soon. She wanted to go on writing, reading, and sharing her time with friends at Schowalter Villa. Her work and humble spirit live on in the hearts of her many devoted friends. Her memory will be perpetuated in the Mary Miller Library to be built on the campus.
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1963 Oct 10 p. 1
text of obituary:
ESTIMATED COST $200,000
Hesston, Kan. — The proposed new library to be erected as the next major building project at Hesston College will be named ”The Mary Miller Library,” it was decided at a recent meeting of the Mennonite Board of Education.
The library will memorialize Mary M. Miller, teacher of English at the college for 36 years whose death occurred Sept. 21 of this year.
The designation for the library was recommended by the faculty, the Alumni Association, and the Board of Overseers of Hesston College. In a resolution adopted several weeks before Miss Miller's death, the advisory council of the Alumni Association cited her as “teacher, author, counselor and friend who has given 36 years of competent, faithful and dedicated service in the field of Christian higher education to Hesston College and to hundreds of students who sat in her classes.”
At its September meeting, the advisory council adopted a goal of $100,000 annually for the coming three years. The new library has been estimated to cost about $200,000.
