Patsy Miller

BENTON, Mo. -- Patsy Ruth Cloud Miller, 83, a resident of Benton, died peacefully Sunday, March 1, 2020, at Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, surrounded by her girls.

She was born Nov. 10, 1936, in Tiptonville, Tennessee, to the late James Claude and Hazel Odell Reynolds Cloud.

She grew up in Charleston, Missouri, and graduated from Diehlstadt (Missouri) High School. After graduating, she worked at Brown Shoe factory in Charleston. On Sept. 21, 1962, she married Carl Ray Miller. They moved to a farm in Benton to raise their family, and for 54 years they loved and cared for one another until he preceded her in death Sept. 3, 2017.

She was a devoted wife and mother and was a homemaker when her children were young. She was later employed at Thomas W. Kelly Elementary School in the maintenance department alongside her husband until her retirement.

She was a longtime member of the Blodgett (Missouri) Church of Christ and was committed to her faith in God.

Some of her greatest joys were in raising her family and spending time with her grandchildren. She had a quick wit, contagious laugh and playful nature. She enjoyed taking care of her home, working in her yard and listening to bluegrass, old-time country and gospel music.

Surviving are her daughters, Kay Elaine Miller of St. Louis, Cindy Carol (Eric) Dow of Fruitland and Jill Ann (Scott) Hankins of Benton; grandchildren, Morgan Hankins, Taylor Hankins, Austin Dow and Griffin Dow; brother, Johnny Cloud of Benton; and a number of nephews and nieces.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Jimmy, Jack and Jerry Cloud; and sisters, Peggy Walls, Lois White and Kathy Cloud.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the funeral hour at noon Thursday at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston. Rusty Rice, pastor of Blodgett Church of Christ, will officiate. Interment will follow at Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Pallbearers will be Eric Dow, Austin Dow, Scott Hankins, Donald Bellah, Johnny Cloud and Gary Wilkerson.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.