Myrtle D. Milles

Rome - Myrtle Doris (Hurlbut) Milles, 91, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on Tuesday June 1, 2010 at the Eastern Star Home, Oriskany, where she had resided since January. She was born in Ava on December 20, 1918, the daughter of Burton and Satie (Barringer) Hurlbut. She attended West Leyden High School, was treasurer of her senior class, and graduated in 1936. She attended classes at the Rome Collegiate Center of Syracuse University before going on to receive her teaching degree from the State University of New York at Cortland. On January 6, 1945 she was united in marriage with William Paul Milles in the rectory of St. Peterï¿(TM)s Catholic Church, Rome. The couple made their home on Turin Road near Stokes, where Myrtle resided until January, 2010. Mr. Milles passed away October 9, 1983. Mrs. Milles began her teaching career in rural one-room school houses located in the towns of Ava and Lee. Later she worked as a substitute teacher for the Rome City School District until her retirement in 1973. Myrtle was a member of the West Branch Grange, the Lee Unity Senior Citizens, the Retired Teachers Association and the Delta Methodist Church. She took special joy in her family and friends, and enjoyed playing the organ, playing cards, knitting, crocheting, and baking. Mrs. Milles will be remembered as a kind, gentle, generous and loving person who will always be cherished by her many loved ones. Myrtle is survived by two daughters and one son, Nancy (Keith) King, Gerald, and Joan (Alan) Zelinski, all of Rome; four grandchildren, Jennifer (Brian) King MacKenzie, Kristin (Todd) King Emanuelli, Michael Zelinski, and Lindsay Zelinski; three great-grandchildren, Kendra and Brennan Emanuelli, and Alexander MacKenzie. She was predeceased by three brothers, Hollis, Clarence and Lloyd Hurlbut, and three sisters, Wava Traxel, Alice Mathewson, and Marjorie Backer. Her family extends a note of thanks for the loving care given to Myrtle from private caregivers, the Ava Dorfman Senior Day Center, and the Eastern Star Home. Her funeral will be Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at the Nunn & Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 North George Street, Rome, with interment in Evergreen Cemetery, Town of Lee. Visitation is Friday 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Myrtleï¿(TM)s memory to the Ava Dorfman Senior Day Care 305 East Locust St., Rome, NY 13440, the Eastern Star Resident Recreation Fund, Eastern Star Campus, 8290 State Rt. 69, Oriskany, NY 13424, or the Alzheimerï¿(TM)s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave. , 17th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601-7633. Please use the "Sign Guestbook" link below to leave an online message of sympathy or share a memory of Myrtle.