Caren Miller

Obituary – Caren Miller

Caren Lee O’Dell Miller of South Ogden, Utah died at McKay-Dee Hospital on Tuesday, July 11, 2017.

Caren was born on December 6, 1939 in Tremonton, Utah to Johnnie Lee O’Dell and Jean Redford Stoddard. She spent her early years in Logan, Utah before moving to Clearfield and Sunset. She attended Davis county schools and spent three years at Davis High School before moving to live with her aunt and uncle for her senior year. She graduated from Desert High School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. In her youth, she was a talented dancer and beauty queen. She was also a candy striper and worked summers at Lagoon Amusement Park.

Caren married George Gardiner Syme, Jr. in 1961. They had three children: Kale, Meridee and Heather. They were later divorced. As a single mother, she courageously shouldered the task of supporting and raising her brood of toddlers and adolescents.

She gave her all in raising her three children alone, working as a bill collector for Western Bonded Billing and Collections, at Merrill Bean Chevrolet, and then as a bill collector and manager for Bonneville Billing and Collections along with several night jobs to provide for her kids.

Caren prided herself on keeping a nice home, and decoration often changed with her own handiwork. She was a talented seamstress and an avid reader who loved art, classical music and the theater. She tormented her children with the country offerings of Willie Nelson and Tammy Wynette.

In her later years, she met Lawrence W. “Larry” Miller and they married in 2004. They had 19 wonderful years together. She was an accomplished cook who spent her time nurturing a rose garden and enjoyed vacations to Lake Tahoe and Saint George.

She devoted a large portion of her attention to her grandchildren, Ian Syme, Caden and Maili Valero, and Ryley Killips. She also spent countless hours with her grandniece, Madisyn Scoggins. She took great pride in watching them grow and loved spending time with them.

Caren is survived by her husband, Larry; her children, Kale (Tracy) Syme, Meridee Syme, and Heather Syme Valero; her grandchildren Ian, Caden, Ryley and Maili; brothers Jon (Shirley) O’Dell and Paul (Jackie) Beech; and a special niece, Andrea (Scott) Tillotson-Scoggins. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Paula Beech Tillotson.

At her request, no public services will be held.