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Our dear mother, grandmother and companion, Elsie Mae (Byler) Swarey Miller was born on Aug. 18, 1933, to Jonathan H. and Salomie (Zook) Byler at Belleville, Pennsylvania. Due to a stroke, she quietly slipped away to her eternal reward shortly before midnight on Feb. 27, 2023, at Oakwood Manor, Brooksville, Mississippi, reaching the age of 89 years.
The youngest of five children, Mom was raised in the Amish faith where she learned at an early age the discipline and value of family and hard work.
In her youth, she met our father, Abram D. Swarey, and they were joined in marriage on Nov. 9, 1954. To this union were born six sons and three daughters.
As young parents with small children, Dad and Mom came into soul trouble and sought to find the true path for themselves and their growing family. Light and direction broke at last and upon the confession of their sins and finding peace with God, our parents were baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, by minister Frank Wenger on April 23, 1961, at Belleville, Pa. Mother cherished and upheld the faith and was faithful to the end. We as children are thankful for the spiritual heritage handed down to us by our parents.
In the spring of 1966, our family relocated to Mifflinburg, Pa., joining the small congregation there.
On Oct. 15, 1972, our father was ordained to the gospel ministry by minister Harry Wenger. Mother faithfully supported her husband in his calling, giving herself to the spiritual needs of those around her. Mom was very hospitable and opened her heart and home to others.
In Jan. of 1981, our family moved to Clarksdale, Mississippi.
Tragedy struck when our father suffered a fatal injury in a construction accident and passed away on Oct. 9, 1987.
In early 1988, Mom moved to Fleetwood, PA, to be near several of her married children.
Mom remained a widow for 18 years, supporting herself by working at a local hardware store.
We appreciate the companionship she found when she was united in marriage to Dan C. Miller, of Hardinsburg, Indiana on Dec. 4, 2005. She enjoyed her new home and the congregation there.
Mom and Dan moved to Oakwood Manor Retirement Community at Brooksville, Mississippi in Dec. of 2016 where she received excellent care. She resided there until the time of her passing.
We had a loving and praying mother. She would many times express her love and concern for our souls' salvation, wanting us all to be saved. She would pray with us on a personal level as we were growing up and was instrumental in helping us find our way to God. Mom loved to sing and had a clear voice.
Many times she was heard singing in the morning as she was preparing breakfast. Mom enjoyed gardening and spent many hours preserving food for her large family.
She took an interest in people of all ages. We will miss her spunky nature and laughter.
Those left to cherish her memory are her loving husband, Dan Miller, her nine children; Jon and Elmina, Elkton, VA, Tom and Kathy, Brooksville, MS, Melvin and Elane, Linden, TN, Elmer and MaryEllen, Fleetwood, PA, David and Janette, Mifflinburg, PA, Joan and Nolan Ratzlaff, Clarksdale, MS, Elsie and Wesley Nichols, Ayden NC, Sharon and Kendall Koehn, Fleetwood, PA, Robert and Kristin, Kinston, NC, 35 grandchildren and 73 great grandchildren, her Miller family and the dear friends and staff at Oakwood.
Also surviving are two sisters-in- law; Rachael Zook, Belleville, PA and Mary Byler, Belleville, PA.
She was predeceased by our father, one grandson, her parents, two brothers, two sisters, one sister-in-law and two brothers-in-law.