Esther Edith Miller was born May 3, 1920 to Harry Miller, a popular tailor, 33rd Degree Mason, and general man-about-town in Oakland, Calif. Her mother, Strauch, did not survive Esther’s birth.

Miller was raised by her beloved and orthodox grandparents, Max and Sarah Strauch. She was a timid child who played piano and adored her father. As a young adult she worked as a stenographer for the Morewear Paint Company and Dorfman Hats.

In 1943 she attended a Shrine-sponsored dance for servicemen and met a shy, handsome sailor from Texas, F. David Herring. They married in 1945 and were inseparable for the next 63 years.

They settled In Alameda, Calif., and later moved to San Leandro, Calif. In 1953 she had their only child, Phil.

Miller was the best kind of stay-at-home mom: a dedicated PTA participant, school librarian, and community hospital volunteer.

In 1979 she suffered a stroke which slowed her down, but not much. Within a year she was working with Dave to operate Marina Music Service, a mail order supplier of band music, which they owned for 24 years.

Esther and Dave moved to Seattle in 1987, three days before the birth of their granddaughter Olivia.

They followed Olivia and her parents to Kitsap County in 2002, where they lived in Poulsbo.

Esther is survived by her husband, Finis David Herring, son Phil Herring, granddaughter Olivia Herring, daughters-in-law Kim McCall (present) and Elizabeth Heffron (past), as well as granddaughters Elizabeth McCall and Rebecca Smith, plus extended family members Richard Chaffin, Matt Smith, Dennis Justice and Maureen Fitzpatrick.