Margulee Miller

Margulee Davis Miller was born on December 28th, 1930. She journeyed to her Heavenly home on December 20th, 2025. She would have celebrated her 95th birthday this December. Her father, Willie Davis, was a coal miner and she often shared stories of growing up in a coal mining camp near Hazard, Kentucky. Her mother, Dora Barnett Davis, stayed busy caring for up to fifteen children. Margulee was the fourteenth and her name was fused from two aunts, Margaret and Lenora, but most people called her “Marg.”

In 1946, Margulee married William (Billy) Miller, whose sister was her best friend and dime-store co-worker. Billy was still recovering from WW II wounds but told Marg he was going to marry her the first time they met at the soda fountain. Marg was just fifteen years old and Billy was twenty-two. Love, tolerance, commitments, and faith in God kept them together for over seventy-two years.

In 1947, a year after their wedding, their first child, Donnie, was born. In the early 1950s, the family moved to Dayton, Ohio for better employment options. In 1957 they were blessed with a second child, Dora. Ohio brought good opportunities but there were always frequent trips “back home.” Other siblings and friends from Kentucky and Tennessee moved to Ohio, and it was great having them live nearby.

After several years living in Ohio, Margulee and Billy moved to Rockwood, Tennessee in 1975 and settled along Watts Bar Lake where Billy had fished many years before with his good friend Bob Devaney. Their neighbors, Ray and Phyllis Devaney, invited them to attend church with them at the First Baptist Church. Margulee and Billy were devout Christians. They were welcomed warmly at First Baptist Church, and both the church and the Devaney family became an important part of their lives. Margulee and Billy were blessed to make many great friends as neighbors in their community.

Margulee had a true servant heart. She served for many years as the secretary/treasurer of the Sanctuary Sunday School class. She thoroughly valued being part of her church kitchen committee, working many years at Vacation Bible School and serving numerous holiday and other celebration dinners. Margulee loved taking meals to the students at Roane State Community College. During her cooking tenure folks came to appreciate her recipe for Mac ‘n Cheese that is still served at every family dinner and often requested by others. She was a long-time member of her church Joy Group where she enjoyed fellowship, fun, and travel with many kind friends. The activities of the Joy Group, especially with her best friend Phyllis Devaney, brought continuous joy throughout her life.

Margulee enjoyed ceramics, crochet, reading, and more recent Facebook interaction with friends and distant family members. She enjoyed traveling and for several years joined students at Roane State Community College for trips to Washington, Williamsburg, New York, Gettysburg, Boston, and the United Kingdom. She relished a long-awaited trip to Hawaii with her children and grandchildren. Marg took a camping trip across the country and then on to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. It was her first time sleeping on the ground in a tent she shared with two small granddaughters.

Margulee’s faith and love for her husband, children and extended family sustained her through many of life’s challenges. Once Margulee had grandchildren, she became known as "Nanny," the name most people use for her today. For several years she and Billy enjoyed retrieving their grandkids at school and being “entertained” until their parents came home. “Nanny” truly found joy and affection with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. “Nanny” loved to cook and every holiday included time and dinner with grandparents.

Margulee is survived by her son, Don Miller (Tamsin), her daughter, Dora Ewing (Jim), and grandchildren: Matthew Ewing (Erin), Cody Miller, Jody Van Skyke (Jeff), and Mandy Cline (Blake). She also leaves behind great-grandchildren: Tyson VanSlyke, Catherine Ewing, Allison Ewing, Miller Cline, and Lily VanSlyke. Having outlived her parents, husband Billy, and siblings, Margulee was devoted to her family and cherished her many nieces and nephews like they were her own children.

Above all, Margulee was a true Christian woman who loved Jesus, her family, and friends. Everyone who knew her loved her in return. No one ever left her house without her expressing her love. She always prioritized others before herself. She lived a long kind life and will continue her love and service to others as a welcomed Angel in Heaven.

The family will receive friends on Friday, December 26, 2025, from 1:00-2:00 pm ET at Evans Mortuary in Rockwood. Memorial service will follow at 2:00 pm ET. Graveside and interment services will follow in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Rockwood. Evans Mortuary is serving the family of Margulee Miller.

*In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Rockwood, the Roane State Community College Foundation, or the Great Smoky Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America.

*The family would like to express appreciation to everyone for their kindness and generosity for comfort and meals.