Gresham resident, Marilyn Miles died at Hopewell House in Portland with her family and friends at her side on Tuesday, February 8, 2011. She was 71.
A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, February 14, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church located at 5520 NE Killingsworth in Portland. A viewing will be held prior to the service starting at 10:00. Private burial will be held at Skyline Memorial Gardens also in Portland.
Marilyn Kay Miles was born on June 27 of 1939 in Portland, Oregon. Her parents were George J. and Catherine (Schwab) Elsasser. She adored her older brother, Mel (Melvin G. Elsasser 1934-1971).
Marilyn’s family was very involved with Trinity Lutheran Church. In the 1950s, they spent much time assisting in constructing the new Trinity Church and School building. She was the second of four generations to attend Trinity Lutheran School, where she completed first through eighth grade. Throughout her youth, Marilyn was an active member of the Walther League church group. She graduated from Grant High School in 1957.
In December of 1959, She married Tracy I. Miles, with whom she had two children, Tracy I.(Tim) Miles, Jr. and Maria E. Miles.
Her grandchildren include (but are not limited to) Justin Miles and Tiffany Haines, Danielle and Justice Forest, Shuichi Masuda, Tara Miles and Sean McGinty, Anika Gering and Christiaan Gering. She was so looking forward to meeting her great grandchildren, Jack Latham Miles and Bridger Raimi Forest.
In her heart, the true list of children and grandchildren were far too long to list here. Several grew up in her house that called her Mom and even more called her Grandma. She loved them all as her own.
Throughout her life, Marilyn worked as a bookkeeper and receptionist for several businesses including Northwest Roads, Salvation Army, and her father's glass company, Specialty Auto Glass. Later, she worked for many years in the field of mortgage lending. She truly enjoyed her job with the U.S. Bancorp because it allowed her to travel as a trainer and see most of the Western United States. She retired in 1994. Outside of the job, she also traveled to Canada, the East Coast, and most frequently, the Oregon Beaches.
Marilyn’s beautiful singing voice touched many. She sang for the Portland Philharmonic Choir in the 1960s and 1970s. She was often called upon to sing solos at funerals and weddings of friends and family. She was also a lifelong member of her church choir, where, among so many other times and songs, every Christmas they looked forward to her singing the descant for Silent Night.
A true community spirit, Marilyn drove the team van to all of Tim's sporting events, grade school through college. She kept close tabs on everyone who went to school with her children and grandchildren, and is said to know everyone who has ever been affiliated with Trinity Lutheran Church. Even in times of sickness, she refused to discuss her ailments with and medical professional until they told her something personal about themselves.
When not at church or choir practice, Marilyn had many hobbies. She was a devout reader and enjoyed watching the news, judge shows, and home shopping, through which she loved to buy unusual yet useful gifts for everyone in her family. But some of her most memorable gifts were those that were accompanied by her clever and humorous poems, where she would amaze all by her references to long forgotten conversations and thoughtful consideration of her loved ones.
On February 8th of 2011, Marilyn began the next phase of her journey. With unwavering faith, she made it clear that she was not afraid to leave this earth, but that she would miss her friends and family very much.
As was evidenced by the volume of guests that visited her in the Hopewell House Hospice, she will be dearly missed by many. Most of us can only hope to have touched so many lives.
Donations can be made to:
Trinity Lutheran School Elsasser- Miles Scholarship Fund
or the American Cancer Society