Diane Canterbury Miller's Obituary
Diane Canterbury Miller passed away peacefully on Sept. 25, 2024, in Longview, Texas. She was 92.
Diane was born April 1, 1932, in Milwaukee, Wis., to Elsie Pudwell Canterbury and Dr. Samuel Luther Canterbury, Jr. As a child, she enjoyed spending time with horses, especially her horse Lady, and swimming. She met her husband-to-be, Charles Kennedy “Ken” Miller, Jr., who was lifeguarding at the Kilgore Swimming Pool, her junior year of high school. After graduation, she and Ken were married on July 29, 1950.
Education was important to Diane. She attended Kilgore College and was named Who’s Who in English and top honor graduate in the Engineering Department. She completed her education at LeTourneau University as the Salutatorian. She received a Masters from SFA. She taught at Pine Tree High School for 6 years and Spring Hill High School for 11 years before retiring. Many remember her for her high heels and box purses.
Additionally, Diane raised two children, Rachelle and Chip. Because they have an 11-year age gap, she would jokingly say she raised two only children.
Travel was a highlight in her life. Diane traveled to Mexico several times to visit her son and daughter-in-law. She also visited Italy with her daughter, where she fell in love with gelato. Las Vegas and the Shreveport casinos were frequent destinations for Diane and her husband as they enjoyed gambling.
A devout Catholic, Diane will be remembered for her kind and gentle nature, her pride in her family and her love of dessert (specifically crème brulée).
Diane is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Rachelle and Ken Nolley, of Diana; son and daughter-in-law, Charles “Chip” and Loida Miller, of Saltillo, Mexico; grandchildren, Renee Gatons Fujii and fiancé Philipp Hussels, of Ellensburg, Wa., and Bryan and Carrie Gatons, of Kilgore; and great grandchildren Riley and Landon Gatons. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ken; her parents; and brothers S.L. “Cac” Canterbury, III, and Charles Robert Canterbury.
The service for Diane be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at Rosewood Park Cemetery in Longview.
Memorials may be made in Diane Miller’s name to the Dr. S. L. Canterbury, Jr. Memorial Scholarship (her father’s scholarship—for whom the Science and Engineering Building at Kilgore College is named). Please make checks payable in the name of the scholarship to the Kilgore College Foundation at 1100 Broadway, Kilgore, Texas 75662, or by selecting the scholarship at giving.kilgore.edu.
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