Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many, Jeanette Ruth (Miller) Vining, 86, went to be with the Lord on July 20, 2017, with her family at her side. Jeanette was born July 14, 1931, to Joseph and Lillian Miller and grew up in North Cove, Wash., where her father served as the commanding officer at the Coast Guard Station.
Jeanette graduated from Ocosta High School in Westport, Wash., with her high school sweetheart Howard Vining in 1949. They were married Aug. 25, 1950, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Aberdeen.
In 1951, the family moved to Brookings, where Howard was persuaded by his best friend Ronnie Cowles to come to “the land of plenty” and build a life there with his family. They lived in Brookings for 17 years before moving to Grays Harbor, Wash.
Jeanette loved being a homemaker to her three children, eight grandchildren and 14 great- grandchildren. She had so much love to give that she opened her arms and home to foster children and troubled teens. She was known for her wonderful “listening skills” and taught others the love of the Lord and his grace, no matter what life challenges they faced.
She taught Sunday School at the Assembly of God Church in Brookings, Church of the Open Bible in Aberdeen, Washington, South Beach Christian Center in Grayland, Wash., as well as leading the women’s ministries in each of these churches.
Jeanette and Howard enjoyed traveling in their RV to Alaska, across the U.S. and settled in Desert Hot Springs, Calif., as “snow birds” during the winter time for 23 years. At Sky Valley Park Resort they shared many wonderful memories with friends who became their family away from home.
Jeanette is well known among her friends and family for her baking skills. She was the best “pie crust maker,” along with her cream and blackberry pie fillings. No one could make them as good as she could. At Christmas time she would make many loaves of cardamon bread that her children and grandchildren looked forward to getting each year in their “stockings.”
Jeanette is survived by Howard, her husband of 66 years; son Gary and wife Lloydyne of Westport; daughters Gayle Staggs of Westport and Debbie and husband Chris Johnson of Grayland; sisters Josephine (Jim) Moe of Mulino and Loretta Batina of Phoenix, Ariz.
She was preceded in death by a brother Eddie Miller and sister Vanita Miller.
There will be a celebration of Jeanette’s life at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at South Beach Christian Center, 1360 Highway 105, in Grayland, WA 98547.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made in her memory to South Beach Christian Center Building Fund.
