Douglass Ellen Miller
1934-2019
Douglass Ellen Miller, age 85, of Berkeley Springs, passed away on November 6, 2019.
Born May 20, 1934 in Hedgesville, W.Va., Doug was the middle of five children born to the late Charles Frederick “Fred” Sensel and Nora Mabel Cunningham Sensel.
Raised on her parents’ dairy and hog farm off of Martinsburg Road, she notoriously never touched a farm animal. She instead completed a secretarial certificate at Berkeley Springs High School class of 1952 and worked in her father’s mercantile store handling accounts, later working in the offices at the West Virginia Department of Highways and the GM Plant, before finishing her career as the head of purchasing at Morgan County War Memorial Hospital.
Doug married her husband James Franklin Miller, Sr. following his return from the Korean War in 1953, the two having kept up a romance via love letters while he was away.
They raised two boys, James Franklin Miller, Jr. of Hagerstown and Craig Dennis Miller of Berkeley Springs. Doug was at every track meet, football game, baseball game or motor cross race her boys participated in, even if she watched most of them with her back turned, because she “couldn’t watch!”
Doug was a member of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church, serving as its treasurer for many years. She also enjoyed spending time with her friends from Berkeley Springs High School class of 1952 at their monthly lunches. A well-known face at Charles Town Races, there was never a grey horse she didn’t bet on.
She was a deeply caring wife, mother and grandmother, she prided herself on the cleanliness of her home and the orderliness of her taxes. Generous to a fault, she loved spoiling her grandchildren. Nothing lighted her face up more than seeing one of her babies.
Doug leaves behind a devoted husband of 66 years, James Franklin Miller, Sr.; along with sons James Franklin Miller, Jr. and his wife Terry, of Hagerstown, Craig Dennis Miller and his wife Stacey, of Berkeley Springs; granddaughters Jessica Ann Miller of Clear Spring, Md., and Taylor Nicole Reid of Sharpsburg, Md.; grandson Tyler Craig Miller of Huntington, W.Va., and two great-grandsons Owen James Lee Reid and Evan Jacob Lee Reid, both of Sharpsburg. Her great-granddaughter will be born in December. She also leaves behind her sisters Jean Gregory, Ilene Rankin and Darleen Miller, all of Berkeley Springs, as well as many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her brother Charles Frederick Sensel, Jr.
The family would like to thank all of the ladies who cared for Doug in her final years and showed her such consistent kindness throughout her final days.
Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at Helsley-Johnson Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 95 Union Street, Berkeley Springs. Pastor Chuck Bergen officiated. Interment was in Bethel Cemetery, Route 522 South, Berkeley Springs.
Online condolences may be expressed at www. helsleyjohnsonfh.com.
paid obituary