Our beloved Beverly Rose Miller, age 74, left this earth on Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, in La Jara, Colo surrounded by family. The family would like to send a special thank you to the staff of Rio Grande Inn for all their kindness and especially to Julia Burt, a fellow resident, who was a sweet friend and surrogate mother to our little Bee. As family and friends hear the news of Beverly’s passing, the common sentiment expressed by those who knew her well is how much she was loved by everyone who had the “privilege to know this gentle soul.”
Beverly, who friends and family lovingly referred to as “Bee" or "Tia Bee” was born on May 29, 1949, to Robert and Leola (Chavez) Miller. She lived in the family home located along the river outside La Jara until recently, enjoying the beauty of her surroundings each day along with her trusted dog (Achoo) and cat (Luke) and greeting family and friends into her home with open arms. Beverly is now in the company of her Mom and Dad: Leola and Bob Miller, her brother Paul, her dear Aunt Margie Trujillo, her Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Leo and cousin Todd Chavez, her Aunt Doris and Uncle Larry and cousins John, Cary Spannagel, grandparents John and Jeannette (Barnes) Miller, Joseph and Ruby (Rivera) Chavez, and many other uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.
She will be sorely missed by her sister Trenna (Bill) Downing; brothers Warren (Marjie), Alan (Maya), Steven (Nitschka); Nieces and Nephews (and their kids): Adrian, Melissa, Jenni, Paige, Elena, Ana, Diana, Izzy, Mia, Tiffany, Matt, Josh; Cousins: Curtis, Kathleen, Lyla, Janette, Joshua, Jessie, Laure’, Loretta, Michael, Liz, Laura and David; as well as countless dear friends. You know who you are!
Beverly graduated from Centauri High School in 1968 and obtained a bachelor’s from Adam State College in 1973 with a teaching degree that she put to good use as an elementary teacher on the Navajo Reservation, living at various times in Shonto, Dennehotso, and Kayenta, Arizona. She returned to school at Northern Arizona University (NAU) in Flagstaff, Ariz., and obtained her master’s degree in English as a Second Language (ESL) in 1992. Flagstaff remained a dear place in her heart, Macy’s coffee shop with all its good pastries.
After leaving Flagstaff, she returned to the Valley and taught English to ESL adults, many from Guatemala, through the SLV Immigrant Resource Center in Alamosa. She also worked as a professional English Tutor at Northern NM Community College in El Rito, N.M., in 1994. Bee started her own “Bee’s Cleaning Service” and was a Home Care Provider working with disabled individuals.
She was an Americorps Volunteer and enjoyed being a part of the community. She participated in the Conejos County Writer’s Circle for several years and served on the Conejos County Library committee. The satellite libraries in Antonito and Capulin were dear to her heart. She volunteered at the Welcome Center in Alamosa and was a bright spot for many a visitor. On top of all of this, she was her Mother Leola’s companion and caregiver for many years until Leola’s passing.
Bee was a writer. Many a day saw her sitting outside with her furry companion of the time, drinking a coffee concoction or Bengal Spice tea, crafting essays and poetry, many of them nostalgic and funny. All of us who loved her were the recipients of lovely cards or poems for special events which included large numbers of thoughtfully placed stickers from her sticker trove.
Beverly was a philosopher and pondered life seriously. Many lifelong friends called her often, seeking advice or just wanting to hear her sweet voice. “It’s bigger than us,” she would say, “but we’re doing It.” She was also noted for many other cute sayings such as: “Not today!”, “Es La Vida”, and “If only I had another cup of coffee!”.
Although short in stature, Bev possessed the heart of a giant, with a tremendous capacity to love. She was kind and saw the beauty and goodness in everyone she met and shared with us the joy of the simple pleasures she saw in life.
We will miss you terribly and forever remember your laugh, your writings, and songs. We know you would say to those of us who loved you, “just keep doing It!“. It’s now time to spread your angel wings, our little Bee, as we say goodbye with grateful hearts to the one who loved us all so much.
A celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.
