Leona Miller

Leona Mae Miller passed away in Orofino, Idaho, on April 23, 2013.

Leona was born on Nov. 10, 1943, to Richard and Vivian Gilmore in Iola, Kan. She spent most of her childhood in Iola. Her family moved to Payette, Idaho in 1953, but she stayed in Kansas with her aunt and uncle, Jay and June Gilmore, for a couple of years. She joined the rest of her family in Idaho in 1955.

She graduated from Payette High School in 1961. After graduation, she attended Beauty School in Boise, Idaho. Soon after receiving her cosmetology license, she moved to St. Maries, Idaho. While in St. Maries, she met and married Carl Miller, and became an instant mother to Deanna, Karla and Garry in December 1965.

They had two more sons, Richard (Ricky), who was born in St. Maries and Michael, who was born in Bonners Ferry.

The family moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, in 1968. She continued to be a hairdresser in different salons until they built a new house on the South Hill in 1971.

Carl then built a beauty shop in the basement where Leona did hair for her well-established clientele that became her life-long friends.

In 1980, the Millers and the two little boys moved to Peck, Idaho. While in Peck, it didn’t take her long long to find a ceramic shop where she not only enjoyed ceramics, but began several new friendships.

The biggest life change that occurred in Peck was when she answered an ad that was posted on the Post Office bulletin board. She met the Elsbury family.

She, then began babysitting for their six-week-old baby, Mickey. As John and Nancy Jo added to their family, Katie, Danny and Stevie became part of ours as well. She loved all the kids in her life.

In 1986, the family moved to Orofino and the Millers started a logging company that eventually led Carl and the boys to go to work in Colville, Wash.

She drove back and forth from Orofino to Colville each weekend, so she was here for the Elsbury kids during the week and with the rest of her family on the weekends.

She always loved to create things such as ceramics and sewing. But, above all, quilting became her passion. Her quilts have blessed each of us as well as many others throughout the country. Quilting became such a part of her that she had a heart attack at a quilt retreat.

When she suffered a stroke, she could hardly read or write, but she was always able to continue quilting. As she was undergoing chemo treatments, she would make lap quilts to take to the other cancer patients in Lewiston.

Even though she fought hard through the several illnesses, she never lost her smile, her laugh, and her love of life, family, and quilts.

She will be greatly missed by her husband, Carl of Orofino, Idaho; her children Deanna (Steve) Mastre, of Anchor Point, Alaska; Jessica (Darrell) Brooks, Cadence, and Alayna; Callie (Michael) Scalia, Aedan, and Cameron; Leeza Mastre and Kristie Mastre; Karla Miller of Eugene, Ore.; Garry Miller of Haugan, Mont.; Rick (Heather) Miller, Blake, Dyson, Quentin, Jaxon; Michael Miller of Orofino, Idaho; and the John Elsbury family; Her brothers: George (Linda) Gilmore, Mike (Cindy) Gilmore; her sister Diana Martin; and several nieces and nephews, and all her friends.

Leona was preceded in death by her parents: Richard and Vivian Gilmore; her brother, Richard (Dick) Gilmore, and her grandson, Tyler Keith Mastre.