Bernice Miller

Bernice E Miller (84) passed away at the Grand Junction
Hope West Hospice Care Center on March 18, 2017.
Bernice was the daughter of the late James R and Fern Gochnauer. She was born in Colorado Springs where she spent most of her adult life. She did grow up in Ellicott, CO where her family homesteaded land and owned a farm.
She graduated from Ellicott High School in 1950.
Bernice continued her education at Blair Business College. She became a successful business woman and later obtained her Broker's license which allowed her to further her career in the real estate business.

Even though Bernice worked outside the home she was also a dedicated wife, mother and homemaker.
She married  Carl W Miller, Jr. on November 4, 1950
and they raised three children, Mark, Gary and "little sister" Carla.
The family had many vacations and heartwarming stories to recall. Bernice and Carl loved to camp and traveled in their motorhome to various locations in their early retirement years.
During retirement from the public work force, Bernice spent her biggest amount of time as a caregiver to family,
neighbors and strangers. She always had a big heart and something extra to share with others.
Her father instilled a work ethic in her where she always wanted to be busy. Not only did she get her work ethic from her father, but also her love of trees and plants.
She dug and planted many trees and had the opportunity to watch them mature under her tender loving care.
Growing up on a farm instilled a need to have a garden and she canned many jars of vegtables and fruits over the years.
She loved to cook and bake. Her family thinks her chicken and noodles and peach pie was fabulous. Many neighbors delighted when she made her chocolate chip cookies.
Her husband Carl passed away in August of 2009 and she finally moved to Grand Junction in 2012 to be closer to family.
Even though pain began to invade her body and she could do less of the activities she once did, she remained as active as possible always pushing on. She loved to read, tend her flower pots on the back porch and keep up on the weather and news.
Bernice was a woman with a good ear but not afraid to offer her own opinion and a heart known to be filled with unconditional love.
She was preceeded in death by her daughter Carla MacElhaney (Sept 2015) and her son Mark (Bud) Miller (Nov 2015). A brother Robert J (Patty) Gochnauer is also deceased.
She is survived by a son Gary (Sue) Miller of Grand Junction, a sister Linda (Michael Ross) Weatherman of Wheat Ridge, CO, a brother Carl (Lori) Gochnauer of Lake Park, Iowa and grandchildren Amy (Jarry) Johnson of Castle Rock, CO, Nichole MacElhaney and Cory MacElhaney both of  Grand Junction along with 7 great grandchildren and several special nieces and 1 nephew.
She will be greatly missed by her family and friends but we do take comfort in knowing she is no longer in physical pain.

A celebration of life will be held on April 7, 2017 @ 3:00 PM at the Botanical Gardens 641 Struthers Avenue in Grand Junction, CO.

Her ashes will be buried in Peyton, CO at a future date at which time a celebration of life will be observed for Bernice, Mark and Carla.