Evelyn Faye Miller, formerly of Newton, IL passed away on Thursday, December 12, 2019.
Born on March 1, 1929, in New Boston, Texas, Faye was the fourth of eight children. Most of Faye’s childhood was spent picking cotton and cooking. As enjoyable as picking cotton is in the August heat of east Texas, cooking remained Faye’s passion for the remainder of her life. She loved to cook for her family and friends and frequently read cookbooks from cover-to-cover. Her greatest memories were of preparing meals side-by-side with her mother and sisters. However, she most treasured the opportunities to cook savory meals for her soul mate, Max.
She and Max met in the summer of 1946 while Max was in town visiting a friend and were married the following July. The couple migrated north to Newton, Max’s hometown, a year later due to his inability to endure cotton picking. Faye began her career at Arndt’s and at Max’s parent’s grocery story in Wheeler. Jay was born in 1950 and Susie in 1956, so Faye stayed home to raise a couple of heathens. Shortly after Susie was off to school, she began work as a journalist for the Decatur Herald. An avid crafter, she dabbled as a florist before opening Sew Simple, a fabric shop located on the west side of the square in Newton. In retirement, she worked at Griffey’s Jewelry and started her own crafting and quilting business with Max by her side assembling the woodwork and cutting the fabric.
She and Max loved camping, visiting with friends, the Chicago Cubs, and traveling to see the natural beauty of this great nation. Most of all, she loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great great grandmother. She was an incredible role model to all and a pillar of the Newton community.
Faye is survived by her children Jay (Betty) and Susan (Herb), grandchildren Jeff (Sam), Jacy, Danielle (Tim), Ted (Casey), and Lauren (Shay), great grandchildren Jordan, Chenye, DJ, McKailla (Garrett), Darian, Jared, Nikki, Cade, Allie, Zed, Nadia, Lucille, Tatum, and Tinley, great great grandchildren Jayden, Ryley, Crozby, Atlas, Leo, Owen, and Rylan, brothers Gene and Richard, and sister Ruth. She is preceded in death by her husband Max, father Louis Raney, and mother Estella Henry.
Faye was a member of Falmouth Methodist Church and will be laid to rest in Christian burial with a funeral service on Monday, December 16, at 11:30 am at Crain Funeral Home in Newton. A visitation will be held at the same location and date from 10:00 – 11:30 am. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that you make a donation to St. Jude or Master’s Hands.
