Lula Jo (Shill) Miller

Lula Jo Miller grew up in the verdant community of Lehi, Arizona with the ups and downs of rural life. She enjoyed horseback riding on her mare, Dolly. During the teenage years, at rodeos, she noticed boys. Soon, she became attracted to fast cars.  Naturally, her interest evolved in boys with fast cars.

She treasured walks up the lane during visits with Grandpa Shill, a pioneering farmer, learning names to many different shade trees planted by our forebears. It was a time when cotton was king with rotating crops of barley or maize in the field next to the house. The yard had many different mature trees with apricots, citrus, dates, figs, pecans, and a surrounding hedge of pomegranates.

There was livestock as well. She became best friends with a heifer she named Chrysanthemum.  One day, as she got home from school, the heifer was not waiting at the fence to greet her. Looking around, Lu saw the signs. Chrysanthemum was beef. Advice: don’t get too attached.

After high school in Mesa, Lu became a skilled optician and worked at Bausch and Lomb in Phoenix for many years. Later, she held a position at Fashion Eye Center on Fry Boulevard in Sierra Vista.

Lu retired in 1999.  She enjoyed her retirement with husband Barry, her dogs Mackie (a Border Collie) and Victor (a Dobermann Pinscher).  She planted many trees, including a fruit-tree orchard.  From the deck overlooking the back yard Lu quite liked the view of the San Pedro valley, several mountain ranges, and military aircraft flying low on their way to Libby field.  All while listening to her favorite radio talk shows.

Lu and Barry also did some travelling, including to Alaska, Hawai’i, Michigan, and Florida.  Lu also enjoyed camping in the forests of Arizona.

She is survived by her husband Barry, brother Burt Shill, sister-in-law Femie Shill, and brother Lyle Schnitzler.

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