Violet 'Vi' Jeannette Taggart Miller
Violet “Vi” Jeannette Taggart Miller of Worth Township began the most glorious life she has always faithfully believed awaited her when she left her earthly struggles and valiantly fought battles Sunday, the day after her 94th birthday, at the Good Samaritan Hospice in Cabot.
She had been anxiously awaiting this moment since she lost her beloved sister and best friend, Evelyn Taggart, in 2007.
Now she is done with the daily pain she endured. She is able to walk and run again, to ride her lawn mower as fast as she wants, and to dance, cook or clean anytime. She can play the piano, read and see the sunshine again. She is at peace and with the Lord and the other loved ones who greeted her in Heaven, although she will be greatly missed by her loved ones here.
A stellar housekeeper, devoted wife and mother, proud grandmother and an ahead-of-her-time farmer and businesswoman, Violet was born on Jan. 3, 1921, to Jack W. and Ethel E. Morrow Taggart at the family homestead in Worth Township, Butler County. She was one of six children.
At 17, she married the love of her life, Charles Josiah Miller. Together, they owned and operated the Keystone Dairy Farm in Worth Township, milking registered Holstein cows. She was a smart businesswoman, keeping accounting records for the farm business, while being a full-time caregiver for her in-laws, and a mother, offering constant care and guidance to their three daughters.
For 43 years, she was a hardworking farm wife, supporting her husband on the farm by providing meals, canning, gardening, lawn work, bookkeeping and milking. She took evening classes in typing and accounting as well as earning an LPN, working for a brief time at the Grove City Medical Center.
Violet lost her husband suddenly in 1970. Although she grieved his loss, Violet, being the strong, independent person that she was, arranged the sale of the dairy cows and farm equipment and continued to manage the farm. She found employment at Chamber's, a Chrysler-Plymouth garage in Ellwood City, and at the McGowan's Lumber Co. in Slippery Rock. She joined the payroll/personnel department of Slippery Rock University where she worked for 13 and a half years until her retirement on June 30, 1985.
Drive, purpose, tenacity and organization were ways of life for her. She was an outstanding example of the strong, independent American woman. She was ahead of her time. She was a feminist before people had heard of the word. She maintained the 200-acre farm in prime working condition for 40 years after her husband's death. She oversaw the renovation of the landmark barn on the Miller farm. Violet honored the land by selling a 35-acre portion of the farm to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. It is now known as the Miller Esker and will forever remain as an undisturbed geological formation.
She belonged to the St. John's United Methodist Church, where she was church pianist for many years. She also attended the Portersville Bible Church. She was a fine Christian example to those who knew her.
She was a member of the Worth Grange, the Pomona, the state and national Granges. She was also a life-member of Butler Tanglewood Center and Slippery Rock and National AARP, and she earned recognition as a 50-year voter.
Her family is grateful to the Lord for the many years that they had with her and for the wonderful memories they will hold in their hearts until they see her in Heaven.
Violet will be deeply missed and forever loved by her three daughters, V. Jean (Larry) Campbell of Trafford, Donna (Alvin) Vogel of Evans City and Carol Miller (Gary Glenn) of Slippery Rock; and her four grandchildren, Mimi Campbell of Grove City, Dr. Mark Campbell of Slippery Rock and Luke Vogel (Heather Hosilyk) and Charles Vogel (Laura McAllister), both of Evans City. She is also survived by her brother and his wife, John L. and Carolyn Taggart, of Arizona, and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, Charles J. Miller, who died on May 16, 1970, she was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved sister and best friend, Evelyn Taggart; and her three brothers, Philo, Homer and Harry Taggart.
Miller— The family of Violet “Vi” Jeannette Taggart Miller, who passed away Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, invites you to share memories of Violet's life by joining them for visitation from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. until time of the service at 11 a.m. Saturday at theSmith Funeral Home, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock. The Pastor Mike Charles from the Portersville Bible Church will officiate, assisted by the Pastor Barb Moore of the St. John's United Methodist Church of Slippery Rock. Violet will be laid to rest eternal next to her husband in West Liberty Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Portersville Bible Church, 111 E. Portersville Road, Portersville, PA 16051, or to St. John's United Methodist Church, 244 Halston Road, Slippery Rock, PA 16057.
