Diana Lee Miller died at home in Seabrook, N.H., on May 14, 2024, surrounded by those who loved her tremendously.
She was born in Morgantown on Jan. 1, 1943, to the late Edgar and AnnaBell Bower.
The oldest of three sisters, Diana roamed the hills and woods around their home, developing a love of nature and a scientific mind. She enjoyed helping her father work on car engines and small electronics and working with her mother gardening, canning and cooking.
In high school, she met the love of her life and future husband, Marshall Miller. They married in April of 1964 and moved to Pennsylvania where they started a family. Their son, Eric was born in 1966 and their daughter, Dawn followed two years later. Diana loved being a mom more than anything — not surprisingly, she was very, very good at it.
The family moved back to West Virginia in 1973 so Diana could attend the School of Nursing at West Virginia University. After Diana received her Bachelor of Science in nursing, the family moved in 1978 to northeast Ohio where she began her career in emergency and surgical care. She found her niche and people in post-anesthesia medicine at Salem Community Hospital, and she enjoyed being a part of that community for many years.
In 1989, she and her husband moved to Cornelius, N.C., and she began working as a school nurse for Mecklenburg County, coordinating immunization clinics, working with social services and integrating health and wellness into classroom learning. She eventually moved into supervisory roles and said her greatest satisfaction came from helping other nurses achieve their professional goals. She loved helping others be their best.
Diana and Marshall retired and moved to Gulf Breeze, Fla., in 2004. Diana worked in real estate for a short time while enjoying coastal life through jet skis, golf tournaments and fresh seafood.
Her next great love came in 2009 when her grandson, Sam was born. She was a proud and devoted grandma, and she and Marshall moved to New Hampshire in 2018 to be closer to their children and grandchild.
Diana was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome in 2019, and, in her usual fashion, researched the best cancer care and began treatment at Dana Farber Cancer Institute-Boston and Exeter (NH) Hospital. She was a favorite patient with the outstanding medical teams there for four years and participated in three clinical trials to further leukemia research. She was endlessly optimistic and tremendously grateful, frequently telling everyone, “I am so blessed.” Having survived breast cancer twice, a brain tumor and the loss of their son, Eric, Diana was known for her catch phrase, “It could be worse.”
Diana was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Linda Neely and Sharon Coombs; and her son, Eric Michael Miller.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Marshall Miller; daughter and son-in-law, Dawn and Michael Jorgensen; and grandson, Sam; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and family of the heart including, Mark and Katie Potvin and most of the BLHS Class of 1984.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be at the McCulla Funeral Home in Westover at 1 p.m. on July 13 with a reception following at the Mountaineer Golf Course in Morgantown.
Those wishing to make a donation in her memory are encouraged to visit:
www.exeter-hospital.com and www.dana-farber.org
Condolences:
www.mcculla.com
