- Date Of Birth: February 21, 1915
- Date Of Death: June 15, 2013
- State: Oklahoma
Dean was born February 20, 1915, in Olustee, OK, to Jim and Mae Newton Melton. She was the youngest of seven children who are all deceased. Dean graduated from high school in Tulsa, OK, moving to Oklahoma City on her marriage, December 20, 1934, to Burness C. “B.C.” Miller. B.C. and Dean lived in the South Oklahoma City Capitol Hill area during the early years of their marriage while B.C. traveled on the Interurban to Norman to establish and operate Miller’s Bike Shop which be bought from two of his brothers in 1932. December 24, 1935, Dean gave birth to her only child, James C. “Jimmy” Miller. The family moved to Norman a few years later.
Dean was a wife, mother and homemaker, common occupations for her time. She was also a business woman, behind the scenes, working in and for her husband’s business “doing the books” and “the paperwork”, also common among wives of small businessmen at the time.
Dean loved her brothers and sisters and other extended family with the same interest and concern as her husband and son, but there was no doubt her son “Jimmy” was her joy. Living on an acreage south of Norman during the war years of the 1940’s, the years when Jimmy was growing up, Dean planted, harvested, canned and cooked, not only for herself, B.C., and Jimmy, but also for her father and whatever extended family or new friend needed a home or meal. Dean loved to cook, having attended cooking school, she loved to shop, spend weekends at their trailer on Lake Texoma, playing cards with friends, eating Mexican food at El Charrito’s in Capitol Hill, and driving around the back roads of small town Oklahoma weekends with B.C. looking for the best hamburger, breakfast or adventure.
Dean loved Jesus and kept her bible by her side to the end. After her stroke and impairment, which affected her speech and sight, she made her greatest effort to maintain some ability to recognize her favorite bible passages, as can be told from her bible’s well worn pages.
Dean was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, B.C., her parents, named above, and all her brothers and sisters: Edna Melton Morgan, Chris Melton, John Melton, Annie Melton Cox, Gwen Melton Staples, and Eva Mae Drake.
Dean is survived by her son, Jimmy and his wife Deanna, Norman; grandsons, Mark Mitchell Miller and Brent Clay Miller, both of Oklahoma City, Step grandchildren Danielle Benderly and family, Portland, OR, and Ari Benderly and partner Heidi Dunkelgod, San Francisco, CA; Nieces Shirley Cox Vanderburg Womack and husband Gene, Goldsby, OK and Ginger Gammon-Stoltzsus and husband Steve, Peru, S.A.; Nephews Ed Morgan and wife Mary, Tulsa, OK and Bill Morgan and wife Mary, Seattle, WA; Great grandchildren Isaac and Hannah Ruth Miller, Piedmont, OK, and Zane and Mya Miller, Oklahoma City, and Alexandra Benderly, Portland, OR; Grandnieces and nephews Randy Vanderburg, Goldsby, OK, Roy Vanderburg and wife Michelle and family, Noble, OK, Becky Vanderburg Sturgill and husband Kenneth and family, Goldsby, OK, and Rick Vanderburg’s widow Gala Vanderburg and family, Noble, OK.
The family would like to thank Dean’s many caretakers for their kindnesses and care during Dean’s years at home. We thank Arbor House Reminisce and Brookhaven Extensive Care and their many caretakers for their years of care and kindnesses within their facilities. More recently, we thank Heartland Hospice and all staff who lovingly cared and watched over Dean during her final decline.
Dr. Hal Belknap, doctor to Dean for many years, predeceased Dean but he is in our memory. We thank both Dr. Rene Ballard and Dr. Paul Plusquellec of The Norman Clinic for Dean’s more recent medical care.
