Shirley J. Miller

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Shirley J. (Simmerly) Avery Miller, age 87, of Bourbon, MO, passed to her eternal home Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at Marymount Manor in Eureka, MO, surrounded by her family. 

Shirley Jean was born on July 14, 1930 to Charles Henry and Frieda (Wright) Simmerly, the oldest of eight children. She attended Bourbon schools while helping raise her siblings. In 1947, she met Kenneth T. Avery, Sr., and they later eloped to Piggot, AR and were married on July 24, 1948. To this union, six children were born, Sharon, Rhonda, Barbara, Deborah, Kenneth, Jr. and Kevin.  Kenneth and Shirley were married 32 years and divorced in 1980. Shirley later married Clyde M. Miller in 1981. 

Shirley’s greatest honor was to be a mother, grandma, great-grandma and great-great-grandma. There were 5 generations by all three of her eldest daughter’s families. She loved her family and always longed to return home to Bourbon. Her last visit to Bourbon was for a party that her brother Garrell and his wife Alene arranged in her honor on October 17, 2015. She was shocked by the surprise and almost at a loss for words. She visited with family that she hadn’t seen in years and she had a great time with good food, music and fellowship. Shirley dearly loved her family, including her nieces and nephews. 

Shirley is survived by two daughters, Sharon and husband, Herman Hargett, Jr. and Rhonda Avery Barrett, all of St. Louis; two sons, Kenneth Avery Jr. and friend Nancy Bowen of Union and Kevin Avery (fiancé, Kimberly Monshower) of Florida; one brother, Garrell Simmerly (wife, Alene) of Bourbon; three sisters, Marie Vance (Ray Jr.) of Bourbon, Norma Record of Stanton and Irene Boner of Nashville, TN; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends. 

Mrs. Miller was preceded in death by two daughters, Barbara Tucker and husband Wayne and Deborah Tucker; her parents, Charles and Frieda (Wright) Simmerly; three brothers, Robert, Vernon and Leo Simmerly; the father of her six children, Kenneth Avery, Sr. and her last husband, Clyde Miller. 

Visitation for Shirley was held from 10 a.m. to 12p.m., Friday, April 13, 2018 at the Eaton Funeral Home in Sullivan.

Funeral services were conducted 12 Noon, Friday, at the Eaton Funeral Home with Reverend Herman M. Hargett, Jr. officiating. Interment was held in Hardy Cemetery in Bourbon, MO, with her grandsons, Wade, Brian, Brad and Jacob Tucker, Luke and Justin Toner, Nick Vitale and Jeffrey T. Hargett serving as casket bearers. John Spicer, her grandson-in-law, played Amazing Grace on the bagpipes at the cemetery. 

Friends may send online condolences to the Simmerly Avery Miller family at www.eatonfuneralhome.com.

All arrangements were under the care of the Eaton Funeral Home of Sullivan and Bourbon, MO. 

Sullivan Independent News

Sullivan Independent News
411 Scottsdale
Sullivan, MO 63080

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