Gloria "Jan" J. Miller

Gloria J. Miller (Jan), 80, of Carlsbad, NM passed away Friday, Feb. 3, 2012 at home surrounded by her family. A graveside service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, in section I00F at Carlsbad Cemetery. Pastor John Burke, pastor of New Song Fellowship will be officiating the service. Jan was born January 18, 1932 in Madisonville, TX to George W. and Eva Mae Knox. She lost her mother at age 5, and was responsible for the care of her two younger sisters, Joyce and Eloise. Jan's father, George, a local chiropractor, was very involved in gospel music. He raised his daughters to love this music. All of the girls attended the Stamps Baxter Music School every summer. As they grew, the family traveled as The Knox Girls Trio and as a quartet with their father playing the piano. The family traveled throughout East Texas, singing at "all day singing" events with other musical families and groups. Jan's favorite memories were of her sisters singing together over those years. Jan moved to Carlsbad in the early 1950s and lived with her half-brother, Ira Knox and wife, Bobbie. Later she worked at Carlsbad Auto. She met Bill (William O.) Miller at the First Baptist Church and they married on August 21, 1954. Together they had three children from 1955-1961. During this time she was active in Victory Baptist Church singing frequently in the choir and on occasion she sang solos. Jan was born again at age 28 and devoted her life to Jesus completely. Through Jan's life, ministry and testimony she led her entire family to Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Jan and her husband, Bill were devoted to reaching the youth of Carlsbad for Christ. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s they spent much of their meager living on housing, ministering, and serving the youth that were searching for Jesus. Many young people from New York City to Los Angeles passed through the Miller house to ministry and to be ministered to. Jan was also committed to and loved the nation of Israel. She realized as a believer the special place that Israel holds in the heart of God. She supported Israel through writing her elected officials and the President over the years to continue America's commitment to support Israel as an independent nation. She prayed daily for Israel. Jan is preceded in death by her husband, grandparents, parents, sisters, Joyce and Eloise, two half-brothers, Bill and Ira as well as many dearly loved aunts, uncles and cousins. Until the end she missed being with her extended family in East Texas. Jan is survived by her three children: daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Carl Melton of Carlsbad, son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Vi Miller of Carlsbad; daughter and son-in-law, Sharla and Mike Dempsey of Los Alamos, NM; grandchildren, Amber and Jason Hoffman of Carlsbad, Melanie Melton of Carlsbad, Danny Miller of Odessa, TX, Christina Miller of Denver, Colo., Erin Dempsey of Milwaukee, Wis., Ian Dempsey of Cedar City, Utah; great-grandchildren: Alyssa Hoffman, Sadie Hoffman, Chloe Melton, and Jackson Moore. Jan will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her. She will never know how many lives were blessed by her constant intercessory prayer. We have peace knowing she is now singing with the angels in Heaven.