Virginia "Ginger" Jane'L (Morgan) Miller

Virginia Jane ‘L Miller of Laverne, Oklahoma went home to her beloved Lord Friday, 17 July 2020 at the age of 85.  She was born August 30, 1934 to Forest and Gertrude (Henning) Morgan at 818 Exchange Street in Emporia, KS. at her grandparents’ home.  She had one younger brother Alfred Vance Morgan. 

Virginia or “Ginger” by all that knew her, grew up in southwest Kansas in the Liberal area.  Her father Forest “Frosty” Morgan worked for the Panhandle Eastern Gas Company and moved throughout the Texas Panhandle and Kansas area during his early career.  They often lived in company camps set up for employees which would often provide schools for the employees’ children which Ginger attended.  Her family settled in the Liberal area for some years whereas a teenager she met Kenneth Miller.  Ken and Ginger married on 24 September 1950 and had two children Kirk and Selena Miller. 

Ken and Ginger lived in the southwest Kansas area early where Ken started working as a pipeline welder.  They soon moved to Laverne, OK, in 1959 where Ken started work with the Michigan-Wisconsin (Mich-Wis) Pipeline company.  Ken and Ginger were well known in Laverne and had many friends from the Kansas and Laverne area. 

Ginger noticed that Laverne had a need for day care and soon opened her Ginger’s Little People Day Care Center in Laverne in 1962.  Many Laverne children grew up in her Day Care Center and learned from Ginger’s many lessons on patriotism, manners, sharing, and caring for your friends and family.  She taught the children the Golden Rule and to be kind, compassionate and a true friend.  They experienced many adventures with Ginger from walking to the park for swimming, to all piling into her car for a fun trip to Dauber’s Dime store for a treat.  Over the years many of these children still write Ginger and come by to visit to reminisce those growing up years.  Her very first child that helped start the Day Care Center was Pam Pinckard soon followed by her sister Trisha. 

Ginger was especially proud of our American Heritage and would teach the children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and to learn about our National Flag.   One of her favorite holidays was the 4th of July and would proudly dress in Red, White and Blue and attend the Laverne 4th of July parade from her favorite seat in front of the United Methodist Church.  She continued the Day Care Center until she retired in 1987.  Ginger was most excited being honored in the Laverne 2020 4th of July parade as a “Legend of Laverne”.

From 1967-1971 Ken and Ginger opened and operated a local Teen Town which provided a place for Laverne young people to congregate and have fun listening to music and having dances with live bands. Teen Town was held every other Saturday night with close supervision to provide a fun and safe environment for any student under the age of eighteen.  One would pay to enter and then have all the free soft drinks and cookies as desired, for the money collected went to pay the band and the cost of refreshments.   She also played the part of Ms Claus every year as the holiday season approached for the City of Laverne.  One of her favorite trivia items that she shared was the fact that she and Donald Duck were born on the same day and same year.  When she was turning fifty, she was especially thrilled to share it with Donald Duck as being a half century old.  This once again, shows her love of all things for children.

Inspired by teaching young children, Ginger took college classes at Northwestern Oklahoma State University at Alva and in Laverne completing two years of college.  She also volunteered with the Methodist After School Tutoring program (MAST), providing personal tutoring to students.  She was often requested and volunteered to teach some cooking lessons in the home economics High School Class and Special Education grade school classes as well as working as a substitute teacher.   She loved teaching young people. 

Ginger was a member of the Episcopal Church in Woodward for many years becoming lifelong friends with the local Vicar Father Vern Jones, who remains a close friend.  Kirk, Selena and Ken were baptized and confirmed in the Episcopal Church.  Later Ginger became a devoted member of the Laverne United Methodist Church and attended and taught Sunday School for many years.  She was a very active member of the United Methodists Women supporting many functions and fundraisers through the years.

Ken and Ginger’s favorite place to vacation was Red River, NM.  They took many trips there with Kirk and Selena and grandparents.  They would often go fishing at Eagle Nest and take in all the activities at Red River.  Ginger also traveled there during the last few years with her family and really enjoyed seeing the Red River scenery.

Ginger was also legendary for her home cooked cinnamon rolls which she made with a labor of love often delivering them unexpectedly to friends and neighbors and donating them to the many fundraisers through church or the Volunteer Firefighters.  The cinnamon rolls were claimed to be the best in the country but her secret ingredient was the love and caring she delivered with each roll,  Her kind heart also extended to her loving cats, those that she kept and others that learned they could get a free meal at Ginger’s pet friendly house.  She dearly loved her cats and did not want to see any of God’s creatures mistreated.

She was most proud of her growing family with six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren taking every opportunity to visit with them and read them stories or discuss bible stories.  She always had a special short story from Guideposts to recite before our many family meal gatherings emphasizing building life skills and virtues even when the grands were more interested in eating than listening!

Ginger was preceded in death by her husband Ken Miller (2011) and her son Kirk Miller (2015); her brother Alfred Morgan (2014); her parents Forest and Gertrude Morgan (1983).

She is survived by her daughter Selena Underwood (Calvin) of Stillwater, OK; Grandchildren James Underwood (Stillwater); Sara Banks (Ben) (Andover, KS; and Anna Underwood (Kansas City, KS.  Great Grandchildren include Ian Underwood, Aniston Underwood, Evan Underwood (Muskogee, OK); and Shannon Kay Banks (Andover, KS). Jeff Miller (Shreveport, LA); Tracy Miller (Bossier City, LA), Judy Miller (Kirk) (Yorktown VA) grandson Wesley Miller (Newport News, VA) and Great Grandchildren Dylan Miller (Bossier City, LA), Miles Larsan and Maya Larsan (San Diego, CA) Sister-in-law Peggy Morgan (Alfred) (Santa Barbara, CA)

Honorary pallbearers are all the grandchildren (James, Sara, Anna, Jeff, Tracy, and Wesley) and great grandchildren (Ian, Aniston, Evan, Shannon, Dylan, Miles and Maya).

Ginger Miller was the matriarch and foundation of our family.  Her lessons in life values in following Christ's teachings will guide her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in all aspects of our lives for many years to come.  Her legacy will live on long after this moment.  It was an honor and privilege for all who knew her, learned from her and loved her for being who she was, a disciple of Christ in all she did.  She will be greatly missed in our lives but will make us smile and be happy every time we think of her.