On January 30, 1920, Fritz and Ella Juengerman Hackstedt were blessed with the birth of their first child, a daughter they named Lona Mae. She was then joined by her sister, Dolores, and a brother, Clarence. The family grew up on the family farm south of Needville. She later attended beauty college in Houston. On December 18, 1938, she married Edwin Henry 'Booby' Miller. They lived in Pleak before moving to a home on Horak Street across from Immanuel United Church of Christ.

While Booby worked at Dow Chemical in Freeport, Lona Mae was busy making a home for their expanding family. Over the span of 19 years, six children were born into the family. Janice made her appearance in 1940, followed by Gerald in 1943, Douglas in 1948, Renee in 1950, Byron in 1953, and Robin in 1959. In 1966 the family moved to a parcel of land on Roesler Road which they bought from her parents.

Also in 1959, Booby and Lona Mae gained the titles of Grandpa and Grandma when Janice and Allen Ray Schmidt welcomed a son, Gregory, into their family. After that, more grandchildren followed: Gayla, Garren, Bret, Todd, Amanda, Joshua, Ashley, Ron, Cheryl and Steven. She became a great-grand-mother in 1982 and a great-great-grandmother in 2012. She was the matriarch of a family that included six children, 12 grand-children, 17 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild, plus their spouses, and two step-grandchildren, three step-great-grandchildren and one step-great-great-grandchild.

After Booby retired from Dow he became a full-time farmer with his sons Gerald and Byron. Lona Mae would prepare great meals for the family and the regular helpers who worked long days in the summers and after school on the farm. They would share the family dining table many days, feasting on Lona Mae's delicious smothered chicken, platters of chicken fried steak, King Ranch casserole, and other equally fine meals.

Lona Mae also loved to travel. She loved road trips - some just for a day and others for weeks at a time. She loved to travel to see the fall colors in the northeast. After her children were grown and on their own, she expanded her travels to include trips to Europe. She traveled to Germany to seek relatives. She traveled to Belgium while her son, Douglas, was living there. Once back home she enjoyed sharing the stories of her travels and the hundreds of photographs that she had taken.

She spent many afternoons playing canasta and other card games with her friends. She enjoyed playing BINGO with her sister-in-law, Verna Dell McGuire. She loved going to family reunions and talking about our family's history. Family barbecues were always fun. The family looked forward to the ribs that Booby cooked on his homemade tin pit and Lona Mae's homemade barbecue sauce.

Sadly, along the path of her life, she had to say 'good-bye' to her parents - Fritz and Ella Hackstedt, her brother - Clarence Hackstedt, her sister - Dolores Wittneben, Booby - her husband of 50 years, a son-in-law - Allen Ray Schmidt, and a daughter-in-law - Pamela Smith Miller. But we believe those are the ones who welcomed her to her final home when she took her last breath on Earth on February 19, 2017. She had also outlived most of her friends, especially her best pal - Francis Elaine 'Tissie' Beard.

She is survived by the following family members:
Daughter - Janice Miller Schmidt Nowak and husband, Tom. Grandchildren - Gregory Schmidt and wife Sherrie, Gayla Love, Garren 'Puggs' Schmidt and wife Shelly. Great-grandchildren - Aaron Schmidt, Taylor Schmidt and wife Amber, Colton Schmidt and wife Britny, Natalie Weathers and husband Frank, Brandon Miller and Parker Schmidt. Great-great-grandchild - Stormi Schmidt. Step-grandchild - Greg Nowak. Step-great-grandchildren - Melanie, Garrett and Amanda Nowak. Step-great-great-grandson - Drew Weathers; Son - Gerald Wayne Miller and wife Wanda. Grandchildren - Bret Miller and wife Shellie, and Todd Miller and wife Jennifer. Great-grandchildren - Kylie Miller and Garrett Miller; Son - Douglas Craig Miller and wife Kathy. Grandchildren - Amanda Spears and husband John, Joshua Miller and wife Leah, and Ashley Miller. Great-grandchildren - Kaitlyn Spears, Adelyn Miller, and Landon Miller. Step-grandson - Rob Koch and wife Rita. Step-great-grandchild - John Ryan Spears; Daughter - Renee Miller Richter and husband Roger. Grandchildren - Ronald Richter and wife Bobbie and Cheryl Richter Neill and husband Kenneth. Great-grandchildren - Alexis Richter, Addie Richter, Jacob Richter and fiancé Destiny, and Jade Searle; Son - Byron James Miller; Daughter - Robin Miller Miculek and husband Steve. Grandson - Steven, Jr. and wife Courtney. Great-grandchildren - Lindzy Miculek and Lyssa Miculek.

She also leaves behind sisters-in-law - Marcella Hackstedt and Verna Dell McGuire. Numerous cousins, nieces and nephews live on to cherish her memory.




Several years ago, Lona Mae expressed her desire to live past the age of 95 because she said none of her relatives had lived past that age. Well, she got her wish and set a new goal for any relative that would like to take a shot at her record.

In her final years, Lona Mae was a resident at the S.P.J.S.T. Senior Living in Needville. We wish to thank the staff there for their devotion to our mother as her mind was overtaken by dementia and her body gave up the will to walk.

Pallbearers are her grandsons - Gregory Schmidt, Garren Schmidt, Bret Miller, Todd Miller, Joshua Miller, Ronald Richter and Steven Miculek, Jr.

Visitation will be held at Garmany and Carden Funeral Directors Chapel, 3103 School Street, Needville, Texas 77461 on Wednesday, February 22, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Church services will be held at Immanuel Evangelical Church, 9018 Church Street, Needville, Texas 77461 on Thursday, February 23, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be at Davis-Greenlawn Cemetery in Rosenberg.

Memorials may be given to Immanuel Evangelical Church Cemetery Fund, 9018 Church Street, Needville, Texas 77461.

Condolence messages may be written for the Miller family at www.garmanycarden.com.

Services are under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, 3103 School St, Needville, TX 77461 (979)793-4515.