MILLER
June 22, 1941 – September 2, 2025
Suzanne Marie Miller, lovingly known as Susie, passed away peacefully in her sleep on the afternoon of September 2, 2025, at University of Michigan Health-West in Wyoming, Michigan, surrounded tenderly by her family. She was 84 years old. Born on June 22, 1941, in Grand Rapids, Susie was the cherished daughter of Freeman and Grace Hoffman of Alto, Michigan. She spent her childhood in a small farmhouse in Alto, where her story of faith and family first took root. Her earliest education unfolded in a one-room schoolhouse known as Star School, situated on the very road where she and Lloyd would one day raise their own children. In second grade, she transferred to Clarksville School, completing her elementary and middle school years, before graduating from Lowell High School in 1959. It was in those formative years in Alto that Susie met the love of her life, Lloyd Miller, who would become her steadfast companion for 65 years. Their marriage was a testament to enduring love, unwavering faith, and devoted partnership, a union whose legacy will echo through generations. Susie and Lloyd were blessed with a family whose lives they shaped with tenderness and care. She is survived by her husband, Lloyd, and their children: Yolanda Sholly, married to Brian; Pam Smyth, married to Bill; Dianna Torres, married to Raymond; and Sam Miller, married to Johnna. She was a proud grandmother and great-grandmother to Brandon Sholly (Mary), with children Kendall, Quinn, and Jordyn Sholly; Jason Sholly (Trudi), with children Jay and Troy; Hannah Nowill (Randall), with children Elliana, Samuel, Susie, Lydia, and Maggie; AJ Sholly (Claudia); Jacob Smyth (Michelle); Sadie Smyth; Eli Smyth; Kayli Torres; Danny Torres; Hailey Eaton; Sarah Flores (Samuel); Isaac Miller (fiancée Cheyenne); Kneila Selby; and Lochlind McCoy.
Through her love and guidance, Susie’s life touched and shaped four children, 14 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren, each carrying forward her enduring legacy of faith, warmth, and devotion. Though she worked the night shift for many years at Keebler, Susie’s true vocation was motherhood. She poured herself wholly into raising her family, creating a home that radiated warmth, grace, and joy. Her door was always open, not only to her children and grandchildren, but to friends, neighbors, and even strangers, each of whom found solace and care in her presence. Many will remember her gentle, inviting voice asking, “Can I getcha anything?” Susie possessed the rare gift of turning ordinary moments into enduring memories, often centered around the table she so lovingly prepared. Her kitchen carried the scent of her famous baked beans, a treasured recipe passed down from Grandma Great, and the joy of holiday feasts that became cherished traditions at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Though she nourished generations with her cooking, she would laugh and say that her favorite thing to make was never created in the kitchen at all, but rather was a dinner reservation shared with those she loved. Among all the gatherings that filled her home with laughter and light, none shone brighter than the annual Miller Christmas. Hosted faithfully at her and Lloyd’s home, the celebration began not with presents but with a hymn sung together, followed by Susie’s heartfelt prayers of blessing over each family member. For Susie, Miller Christmas was never about gifts, it was a living testament to Christ, the true center of her life, and the family she so dearly cherished. Faith was the heartbeat of Susie’s existence.
She and Lloyd were devoted members of Ada Bible Church in Ada, Michigan, attending services weekly and living as steadfast witnesses to their love for Christ. Susie also attended weekly Bible studies, creating spaces of fellowship, reflection, and friendship that touched countless lives. Her joy in the Lord was palpable, shaping everything she did and how she loved others. Yet, even in her devotion and service, Susie cherished the simple joys of life. Sunlight on her face, laughter echoing across a yard, a cup of strong black coffee in hand; these were the moments she treasured most. Those who knew her best understood her peculiar delight in the beach: loving the sun, the sand, the warmth of the day, yet adamantly, avoiding the water. Summer evenings held particular magic: the twinkle of her children’s laughter, later her grandchildren, chasing fireflies and twirling sparklers near the cornfields. At day’s end, she could often be found on the wooden porch swing Lloyd had built, rocking gently in the hush of twilight, her gaze resting on the family she so deeply cherished. For those who glimpsed her there, the image endures- not merely a woman on a porch, but love rooted deep, legacy carried forward, and the quiet profound beauty of a life fully lived. In her final days, she found solace in another gift of love: the flower garden Lloyd had planted for her. Countless afternoons had been spent admiring its blooms, and when she could no longer see them in person, Lloyd brought the blossoms to her in the hospital.
Their fragrance lit her face with the sweetest smile, a final echo of the love that had defined her life. Even as her health waned, Susie and Lloyd’s love remained unwavering. He continued to court her with drives down the familiar country roads of their youth, outings to watch pickleball games in Caledonia, and meals at their favorite local restaurants. She often expressed gratitude for his steadfast care, his gentlemanly devotion, and the quiet constancy of his love. Susie’s life was a tapestry of generosity, kindness, and unwavering love. She had a rare gift for making every person feel seen, welcomed, and cherished. Her deepest desire was to live as a devoted follower of Jesus, a faithful wife, a loving mother, and the cornerstone of her family. In all these ways, she succeeded with grace, leaving behind a legacy of faith, joy, and compassion that will continue to flourish in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her. Funeral services were held on Monday, Sept. 8, at Calvary Grace Brethren Church in Alto, Michigan, with a graveside service following at Bowne Mennonite Cemetery.
