Judith Lynn Miller died at home at the age of 76 on November 30th, 2020 after dealing with ill health for the past couple of years.
Judy was born in Seattle Washington on April 23, 1944 to Frances and Walter Nelson. Her whole upbringing was spent in Seattle where she graduated from Roosevelt High School. Judy had fond memories of her childhood where she made many connections and friendships that lasted throughout her adulthood that Judy considered her family.
Judy attended the University of Washington where she received a BA in elementary education. It was during this time that she met and began dating Alford Miller Jr. Judy and Al married in 1965 and she began teaching for Clover Park School District. In 1970 their son Brent was born and in 1971 their second child Janette followed.
Judy and Al moved their family to Bainbridge Island in 1972 after Al accepted a job as the new metal shop teacher at Commodore Middle School. Judy devoted all of her time to raising a family which also included volunteering in her children’s classrooms, attending many of Brent and Janette’s sporting activities, gardening, visiting with friends, loving Al, and enjoying the many connections that Bainbridge Island had to offer. When the children entered high school she went back to working full time as a teacher and taught third and fourth grade at Suquamish Elementary for over 20 years. After Al’s passing in 1995 Judy went back to school and pursued her Masters in Education and remained dedicated to her teaching profession even after her retirement through her professional organizations and volunteering at her grandchildren’s elementary school reading to young students.
She was an incredibly kind, strong, loving, and supportive individual. Judy was also an ovarian cancer survivor which gave her an incredible outlook on life and she was very happy for the second chance given to her. She had many friends through different social circles who filled her days with laughter and exciting adventures. She had a passion for travel, lifelong learning, good books, and most of all loved being a mother and grandma. At the time of her passing she was surrounded by good friends and her family which was her wish. She truly will be missed by all.
Preceded in death by her husband of thirty years, Al, and her brother James Nelson. She is survived by her daughter Janette Dodge, son Brent Miller, son in law Matthew Dodge and grandchildren William and Courtney all from Bainbridge Island.
Due to COVID-19 there will be no memorial service. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Bainbridge Youth Services and Bainbridge Schools Foundation, two of Judy’s favorite organizations on the island.
