Mary J. Wilson-Miller

Mary Stidham was born and raised in the Valliant countryside. During her senior year, Class of 1952, she met and married her sweetheart, Jim Wilson. They spent their first years living in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, where Jim worked for Sears Department & Catalog Stores. Mary and Jim's goals were to move closer to their hometown of Valliant to be closer to their family and the country lifestyle. In 1965, their dream came true. Mary, Jim and their three children, Suzie, Jimmy and Patty moved home. They built a home next to her parents, John and Naomi Stidham.
Soon, there was a trail across the pasture and many footsteps were made from home to loving home. Jim raised several large gardens on their six acres, and Mary picked many peas and vegetables during the heat of the day (her favorite time to pick) in order to feed her family. She and her mother canned and froze all of it, loving the memories they made together. Mary was a great cook and some of her specialties were her homemade chocolate and coconut pies (her flaky pie crust will never be forgotten by her family), fresh apple turnovers and delicious butter horn yeast rolls.
Mary also loved to sew; she made dresses and pantsuits for herself, her Momma and her girls. She pieced many quilts for her children and grandchildren. Many stuffed animals and doll clothes were made from the quilt scraps.
Mary and Jim had 42 wonderful years together. In 1993, after a year of illness, Jim passed away. Mary was only 59. She began working for the Valliant Public School System in the offices of all three school buildings. Mary worked for nine years, making many friends and loved working with the students and faculty.
Mary and a couple other widow women friends, Jo Christian and Dean Barnett loved going out to eat and to the American Legion Dances to have fun. Mary met Elmer Miller, who loved to dance, also. They met in 2003 and married in 2007. The dancing slowed down, but they enjoyed fishing, gardening and visiting friends and family. Elmer was so good to help Mary with her aging mother.
Mary was a woman of great faith and a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. She and Elmer attended the Sweet Home Church of Christ. Mary loved reading and discussing the Bible with friends and family.
In later years, Mary and Elmer fed the birds and squirrels; she loved seeing the different animals that visited her yard, hummingbirds being her most favorite. Their dogs were members of their family, as well, even if all they wanted to do was lay in her rose garden. Her porch was always covered with beautiful spring flowers of every kind, and everyone was welcome to visit. Mary will be dearly missed by all who knew her and loved her.
Mary is survived by her loving family; husband, Elmer L. Miller of the home; children, Suzie Howard and husband, Carroll, Jimmy Wilson and wife, Trish, and Patty Hayes and husband, Scott; grandchildren, Tommy Howard, Laurie Pulley, Jacob Wilson, Becky Decker, Willie Cox, Amanda Hayes and Autumn Hayes, 15 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren; along with her extended family; step children, Donnie Lee Miller and wife, Jackie, Frank Miller and wife, Christy, and Marsha Trotter; step grandchildren, Jessica Miller, John Miller, Samantha Miller, Amber Collins, Zane Kirk, and Renee Crudup; 9 step great grandchildren; along with a host of nieces, nephews, other family, friends and loved ones.