Florence Lillian Miller (nee Nelson), age 98, died peacefully in her sleep in Seattle on Sept. 12, 2008. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Earl Miller in 1980.

Florence is survived by her three children, Diane Evalice Current (Jerry) of San Rafael, Calif.; Carolyn Jo (Kelly) Ford (Tom), of Newton, Mass.; and Bruce Robert Miller (Elizabeth), of Seattle; grandchildren Karen Current, Pamela Motl, Jim Current, Jamie Ford, Timothy Ford, Clare Merrick and Lindsey Miller; and great-grandchildren Nelson, Catalina, and Miguel Herrera, Nashville and Henry McCarroll, and Blake and Daniel Motl.

Florence had a profound love of the Pacific Northwest. She lived in Seattle’s Eastlake neighborhood as a child, then Bellevue, Clinton on Whidbey Island, Everett, and the Ravenna neighborhood. She particularly delighted in the view of Puget Sound and the Olympics from her home in West Seattle. Since 2001, she lived at Foss Home, where she received dedicated care from patient and committed staff, and made several close friends.

An only child, Florence felt privileged to be a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was a lifelong P.E.O. member, most recently of Chapter F.G., and appreciated both the sisterhood with the other members of the organization and its work to advance charitable and educational goals in the community. She belonged to University Presbyterian Church, and later, Fauntleroy Community Church.

Florence shared her playful sense of humor with all who loved her.

A child of immigrants, Florence believed in the American dream, and in many ways realized it for her family. She was salutatorian of the Bellevue High Class of 1928, and excelled in her studies in secretarial college. She had a lifelong love of learning, delving into new topics with enthusiasm, diligence, and high standards for herself and those around her.

A very talented teen, Florence was an expert pianist and passed her love of music on to her children. She was later able to combine her family life with professional pursuits as a trusted secretary in the legal community. For many years she was employed as personal assistant to Pendleton Miller, Esq. of the Seattle firm of Lane, Powell, Moss and Miller. Her many interests included a book club, garden club and developing and maintaining her gardens and growing wonderful house plants. She enjoyed knitting, sewing, bridge and pinochle, and continued to learn as an adult, picking up hobbies such as fishing and metal work after her children had left home. An avid reader, she was one of Seattle Public Library’s best customers. In her later years, she very much enjoyed listening to books on tape provided by the Washington State Commission for the Blind. She was the center of her family, keeping all of her scattered children and grandchildren in touch with letters and phone calls.

A memorial service was held at Acacia Funeral Home in Lake City on Thursday, Sept. 18, and a short committal ceremony was led by the Rev. Al Roehl from Foss Home at the Acacia Mausoleum.

For anyone wishing to make a contribution in Florence’s memory, the family suggests donations be made to Friends of the Seattle Public Library, www.splfriends.org.