Janette Miller

Janette Miller, 79, of Maggie Valley, North Carolina passed away peacefully, with her family by her side, on Wednesday, August 7,2024, at the Silver Bluff assisted living facility in Canton, North Carolina.

Janette was born September 5, 1944, in Accrington, Lancashire, U.K. She was preceded in death in the U.K. by her parents, John and Ruth Sagar, brother, Ken Sagar; sister, Helen Birtwistle; brother-in-law, Jim Birtwistle; and sisters-in-law, Eileen and June Sagar. She was also preceded in death in the U.S. by father-in-law, Earl F. Miller of Monroe, Mich.; brother-in-law, Earl T. Miller of Honolulu, Hawaii; brother-in-law, Russell Miller of Houston, Texas; and sister-in-law Tracey Duliban of Ida, Mich.

Janette is survived by her loving husband, Ron of nearly 56 years; son, Jason Miller of Maggie Valley, NC; daughter, Kimberley Olson of Swannanoa, NC; brother, David Sagar of the U.K. and the following in-laws: Mother-in-law, Theresa Miller of Monroe, Mich.; brothers and sisters-in law, Kevin and Karen Lavigne of Monroe, Mich.; Tony and Cheryl Fiumefreddo of Clark, New Jersey; Tim and Eileen Miller of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Jeffrey Miller of Monroe, Mich.; Rebecca Miller of Monroe, Mich.; and Mark Duliban of Monroe, Mich.; In addition, Janette leaves behind many nephews and nieces in the U.S. and the U.K., whom she loved dearly and spoke of often.

Janette and Ron were employed by the Department of State: Janette as a computer analyst, Ron as a Senior Foreign Service financial management officer. They were married in London, U.K. on December 28,1968 by Janette's brother-in-law and Anglican Priest, Jim Birtwistle. Following Ron's assignment in the U.K., they traveled together on assignments to Washington, D.C., Charleston, South Carolina, and American embassies in Paris (twice), Damascus, Lagos, Abidjan, Vienna, Taipei (American Institute), Santiago and Athens.

Janette and Ron retired on September 30,2002. They moved directly into their home in Maggie Valley where they fell in love with the spell-binding beauty of the Appalachian Mountains.

Janette was a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, sister-in-law and friend who loved her church and attended, with Ron, All Saints Anglican Church in Mills River, NC. She participated with a loving Christian spirit in church activities and ministries until her fading health prevented her from doing so.

She was an avid gardener. In fact, she had a green thumb-Midas touch where everything she touched in her flower beds turned to beauty. She enjoyed painting in oils. Her paintings have been on display wherever in the world she lived. She painted for the love of art itself and occasionally on commission. She loved to cook and gathered quite a collection of cookbooks from around the world and produced many world-class feasts as a result. Her Thanksgiving dinners were a family legend not to be missed. She was a wiz at crossword puzzles or Just about any brainteaser puzzle you can think of.

A memorial service for Janette will be held at All Saints Anglican Church in Mills River, NC on Saturday, August 24,2024 at 11 a.m. officiated by Fr. Eric Zwingert.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the compassionate and professional medical and support staff of Haywood Hospice and Silver Bluff assisted living facility.

The care of Mrs. Miller has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville