Sandra Lee Miller

Sandra passed away peacefully May 20, 2021, surrounded by family, at Willamette Valley Hospital in McMinnville, Oregon due to complications of Crohn’s Disease. She was 80 years of age.  Sandra Lee Dodd was born to Kenneth Earl Dodd and Carrie Elizabeth Dodd on September 18, 1940 in Eugene, Oregon. Her family moved to Newport when she was a toddler. Sandra lived the next 60+ years in Newport where she attended school and graduated in 1958. After High school she married Elmo Floyd Johnson of Newport on July, 8, 1958. Elmo and Sandy had a wonderful marriage and raised three children (Cari, Troy, & Shelley) all of whom attended school in Newport like their parents. In 2004 Elmo and Sandy moved to the Willamette Valley to be closer to their children. While in Corvallis they celebrated 50 years of marriage together.   Sandra was an active member of the church of the Nazarene. She was devoted to teaching children’s Sunday school with Elmo for decades, working in the Nazarene World Mission Society and traveling on multiple work and witness trips with her husband and children. Sandra enjoyed sewing, baking, knitting, and reading, sitting in the sun and enjoying long looks at the sea. She was a servant to others and a devoted follower of Jesus Christ.  Sandra was a homemaker while her children were young and a personal banking officer for the Bank of Newport for 19 years before retiring and moving to Corvallis. In 2009 following Elmo’s death, Sandra moved from Corvallis to Albany to be more centrally located so she could be connected with all of her children and grandchildren, and next door to where she took up membership at Grace Point church of the Nazarene. While in Albany Sandra worked with the “Senior Companion Program” which was a love of hers to personally serve those in need.  After living alone for 12 years, Sandy married a 60 year friend in Dr. Lewis Jay Miller, who was a widower and 58 year partner to Sandy’s best friend from high school (Karen von Hoene Miller). Sandy and Lewis found love in their mutual loss, faith, and combined strength. They married in the presence of the LORD and their families on November 1, 2020 in Philomath. Lewis brought Sandra great joy in the 7 months they spent living life together and enjoying God’s creation to the fullest as neither knew the length of time they had. In Sandy’s last year she and Lewis lived life with no holds barred as they blessed family and friends with their kindness and just enjoyed each other.  Sandra was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Elmo and her sister Joy (John) Pearsall. She is survived by her Husband Lewis, Sister Lisa Dyal, Children, Cari (Jim) Sanderson, Troy (Debby) Johnson, Shelley (Jon) Bartlow, 9 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. She is also survived by the 5 children and 2 grandchildren of Lewis and Karen Miller.   A memorial service will be held at Grace Point Church of the Nazarene in Albany on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 10:00 AM. Due to Sandy’s great love of the mission arm of the church of the Nazarene in the Philippines, memorial contributions can be made to Grace Point Church of the Nazarene in Albany, Oregon to support continuing mission trips.  “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” – Psalm 116:15