Obituary of Martha Ann Miller

Martha Ann Fergason Miller, 85, of Vernon Hills, Illinois passed into eternal life on Sunday the 21st of September, 2014, at home with her family by her side. Affectionately known as Marty or Martha Ann, she was born March 29, 1929, in Racine, Wisconsin, to Rector Charles Fergason and Minna Lee Buckner Fergason who preceded her in death. At the time of her retirement, Martha had been an elementary teacher in the Maysville, Ohio School District for 18 years, and had also taught in LaPorte and Indianapolis, Indiana, Ingrandes, France, and Medina, Ohio. A member of Grace United Methodist Church in Zanesville, Ohio, for 53 years, she served as the Sunday School Superintendent and on the Administrative Board. Education and developing children were among her many passions. Martha was a graduate of Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri, and Indiana University Bloomington, with continuing graduate studies at Muskingum College and Ohio University. Socially gracious and artistically gifted, she was a member of Chi Omega Sorority, active in the Zanesville Community Theatre, Beaux Art Club, and as a docent at the Zanesville Art Center, President of Junior Assembly, President of the Green Thumb Garden Club, and Authors Club. She was also committed to developing and enriching the community through serving on the Advisory Board of the Bethesda Hospital Association, as a trustee of The Rambo Health Center, the board of the YWCA, and Y City Women’s Group. She traveled the world through 47 countries with her husband of 61 years; she was his inspirational partner who stood behind their shared political ambitions with energy and enthusiasm. She is missed and lovingly remembered by her two daughters, Lisa Andria Miller (Demetrios Bruce) of Wadsworth, IL and Dr. Leslie Adrienne Miller of St. Paul, MN; two grandsons whom she adored, Christopher Paul Bruce of Chicago, IL and Sebastian Dante Williamson of St Paul, MN; a brother, Robert Elton Fergason of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; and her beloved husband, Ray G. Miller, retired Common Pleas Judge of Muskingum County, Zanesville, Ohio, currently of Vernon Hills, IL. No calling hours will be observed. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 27, 2014, at McMurrough Funeral Chapel, 101 Park Place in Libertyville, IL. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Zanesville Art Museum, 620 Military Road, Zanesville, Ohio 43701 or Grace United Methodist Church, 516 Shinnick Street, Zanesville, Ohio 43701.