Virginia Coffey (Gina) Miller
Gina entered peacefully into rest at The Gardens On University August 5, 2009. She was born Mildred Virginia September 25, 1916 in Greensburg, Indiana to John and Mattie Coffey. In 1926 the Coffey family packed up and headed west to Colville, WA. After she and her brothers completed high school, the family moved south to a small farm just outside Chewelah. It was at a Chewelah grocery store she met the man of her life, Gerald E. Miller. They were married September 19, 1937 and enjoyed 66 years of marital bliss before Jerry's passing in 2004. Jerry and Virginia started their family in Chewelah and completed it after moving to Spokane in 1943. After several moves they built their own home in 1952 on the corner of Stout and Buckeye in Millwood and it remains the family gathering place today. Her youngest son likes to refer to it as "Millerwood". Virginia worked several years as a cashier for the Bon Marche and later as a bookkeeper for the family business, East Valley Thrift Store. Her main job however, was being a wife and mother and she excelled in performing her duties. She was always an avid reader and also enjoyed battling a good crossword puzzle. But her joy of joys was cooking and feeding anyone and everyone. She loved her church, Millwood Presbyterian, and worked many weddings, funerals, and other functions along side her longtime friend Arzell Pollock.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, her eldest son Dennis, brothers Bob and Paul, Paul's wife Jane and their daughter Pennie. She is survived by her daughter Judy Stewart and husband Don, daughter-in-law Janet, middle son Bob, and youngest son John and his wife Cynthia Stowell. She also leaves nine grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A special thank you goes out to the folks at The Gardens for making Gina's final days comfortable and peaceful.
A memorial service will be held August 22, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. at the Millwood Community Presbyterian Church, 3223 N. Marguerite Rd., Millwood, WA. An informal inurnment will take place at 3:00 P.M. at Fairmont Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers gifts may be made in her memory to the American Diabetes Association, The American Cancer Society or the Millwood Community Presbyterian Church.