Mary Alice Handel Miller

Mary Alice Handel Miller

Aug. 13, 1939 - May 5 2015

CAMBRIDGE, Neb. -- Mary Alice Handel Miller was born in Palisade Nebraska, to Raymond John and Alta Zella Lentz Handel on Aug. 13, 1939, and passed away at the Tri Valley Health Hospital in Cambridge on May 5, 2015, at the age of 75. Mary had been fighting diabetes and reduced lung capacity for years and she was finally too weak to fight pneumonia.

She attended Palisade School from kindergarten through her senior year, graduating in 1957. After school, Mary worked in various places in McCook, Nebraska. Her longest employment was at St. Catherine's Hospital, and then later at McCook Community Hospital until she retired. She was a billing code specialist.

On Sept. 15 1979, Mary Handel was wed to Eugene Edwin Miller, Sr. who was the love of her life. At that time she was the best thing that happened to him since losing his first wife, Celesta, years earlier. She gained a step-family when she married Eugene and they welcomed her into their lives: one step-son and wife, Eugene E. Miller Jr. and wife, Mary Kay, currently of Eastborough, Kansas, two step-daughters, Dorothy Marie Brooks and husband, Bruce Jr. of Cambridge and Karen Ann Werkmeister and husband, John of Cambridge. Along with step-children, she gained grandkids: Gary Brooks, Greg Brooks, Melissa Brooks Farr and Stephanie Werkmeister Henderson. With them came great-grandchildren: Deidre Brooks, Albert Brooks, Laiken Brooks, Raine Brooks, Hailey Brooks, Trace Brooks, Cadence Brooks, Lilly Farr and Traven Henderson. Also Gary and wife, Janice, Greg and wife, Emily, and Melissa and husband, Joe Farr. Mary so enjoyed seeing the kids any time she could.

She is preceded in death by her true love, Eugene; parents, Alta and Ray; one sister, Wilma Handel Meints; one brother, Ken Handel; and two infant siblings.

She is survived by her step-family and brother-in-law, Paul Meints of McCook and nephew, Pete Meints and wife Jeradine Meints of McCook; great-nephew, Chris Meints of Valparaiso, Indiana and daughters, Samantha and Shelby Rae.

Mary enjoyed dancing, crocheting, embroidery, watching sewing and cooking shows along with a certain soap opera. She played cards and always enjoyed a good joke. She and the grandkids liked to play tricks on Grandpa Miller and even went on short vacations together. Mary enjoyed them so much as they did her.

Funeral services will be at Lockenour Jones in Cambridge on Saturday, May 9, 2015, at 2:30 p.m. with Bill Weaver officiating. Interment will be in the Wauneta Cemetery at 4 p.m. (MST). Memorials will go to The Diabetes Association of Nebraska, 14216 Dayton Cir., Ste. 6, Omaha, NE 68137-5566, as per Mary's wishes.