Lois Irene Miller (Welch)

Sioux City - Lois Irene Welch Miller 73, formerly of Sioux City, was received into Jesus Christ’s arms on Sept. 17, 2013, in McAllen, Texas, after battling Parkinson’s disease and severe dementia.
Service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Good News Baptist Church, 3200 W. 19th St., in Sioux City. Burial will be in Memorial Park. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Lois was born in Sioux City, on July 7, 1940, and born again at age 9.
She married Thomas J. Miller, in 1965, at Billy Sunday Memorial Tabernacle in Sioux City. She moved to Rio Grande Valley, Texas, in 1981, with her husband and son to teach for the McAllen Independent School District. She taught migrant kinder, kinder, first and second grade at Bonham Elementary School in McAllen. She retired from McAllen ISD in May 2000 after teaching 20 years.
Lois graduated from Central High School in Sioux City in 1959. She attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., in 1962 (Christian Service Certificate). She also attended Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa, in 1979. She graduated from the University of Northern Iowa (B.A.), in Cedar Falls in 1980. She held both Iowa and Texas Elementary Teaching Certificates.
Lois enjoyed many things including telling children about her Savior Jesus Christ, teaching neighborhood child evangelism classes in her home, teaching Daily Vacation Bible School and teaching in public education. She loved to sing and sang solos to her Lord at the Billy Sunday Memorial Tabernacle, Faith Baptist Church in Mission, Texas, and Maranatha Baptist Church in McAllen. Neighbors even commented how they liked hearing her sing as she hung out the clothes on washday. She collected Christian fiction paperbacks, anything about the Amish, Precious Moments figurines, and Oh, yea, clothes. Clothes for all seasons and holidays, remember, she was a retired elementary teacher. She always decorated the house for every season and holiday. She loved to hostess game nights and meals with family and friends. She was a tough competitor when playing Tough 13 and Enhanced UNO. Her favorite food groups were bread, corn, and potatoes, in that order. She was not a meat or pizza lover. She will be greatly missed.
She is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, Thomas J. Miller Sr.; son, Thomas J. Miller Jr. and his wife, Tammie, Buda, Texas; brother, Kenneth L. Welch of Washta, Iowa; three grandsons, Alan Young of McAllen, Thomas J. Miller III and Travis Jack Miller of Buda; and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins. Most precious to her were her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, husband, son, daughter-in-law, and super grandkids.
She is preceded in death by her father, Raymond J. Welch of Milwaukee, Wis.; mother, Arcelia Fay Welch of Sioux City; and brother, Michal Welch of Eugene, Ore.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to Children’s Home of the Mountains Ministry, c/o Calvary Baptist Church, 1600 Harvey, McAllen, TX 78501.