Maureen Koyle Miller May 1, 1941 - July 15, 2024

Maureen Koyle was born on May 1, 1941, in Spanish Fork, Utah, to Karl Jex and Lorna Hansen Koyle. There were no better parents. She was the second of six children, and loves her siblings dearly. Her parents provided a home centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. On September 1, 1964, Maureen married her eternal sweetheart, Joe William Miller, in the Salt Lake City Temple. Together, Joe and Maureen had six children. Maureen loved her family fiercely and was profoundly impacted by the deaths of her daughter Susan, her husband Joe, and her son Jon. Maureen passed away at her home in Salem, Utah, on July 15, 2024, reaching her heavenly home in time to plan and celebrate her 60th wedding anniversary.

Maureen lived the gospel of Jesus Christ and loved family history, spending hours researching family names and attending the temple. She served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1962 to 1964 in the newly opened Chilean Mission. Maureen often reflected on her mission experiences, speaking of lifelong friends, wonderful companions, and how she met the love of her life. In their later years, Joe and Maureen served two missions together, the first in Goshen, Utah, and the second in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, Spanish speaking. They were eager to serve and were richly blessed for their sacrifice and efforts. Maureen served in many church callings, including Relief Society and Young Women presidencies and committees, teacher in almost every auxiliary, ward missionary, faithful visiting and ministering sister, temple worker, and as a missionary with the Family History Department.

Maureen exemplified the spirit of service and sacrifice, both traits she learned from her parents and sought to teach her children. She made visits to the infirmary, provided community service, enrolled in a Red Cross leader course representing the Utah County Chapter, and was especially honored to be the campaign manager for her brother’s student office election. Maureen enjoyed making visits and delivering plates of warm food to those in need of extra love, especially for the elderly. She always encouraged her husband and supported her children in all of their endeavors. In July of 1976, Joe and Maureen purchased the dry cleaning business in Spanish Fork and worked side-by-side to make Miller’s Dry Cleaning a success.

Maureen forever pursued learning and education. She received many honors and awards, beginning with a first grade honor student certificate. Maureen participated in many clubs and on several different committees, serving in positions such as reporter, program chairman, vice president, editor, student director, publicist, and parliamentarian. As a charter member of the Girl’s Glee Club, she enjoyed singing with groups of any size and sang beautifully. She participated in readings, winning third place in the District Four American Legion oratorical contest. Maureen graduated from Spanish Fork Seminary and Spanish Fork High School with the class of 1959. She was determined to pursue higher education and earned a scholarship to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. After taking time to raise her family, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education from BYU in April 1976. She worked as the assistant librarian for the Spanish Fork City Library and loved reading to the children and recommending books to others. Nobody loved books more than Maureen! Through her love of travel, she met new friends and delighted in communicating and connecting with others from different cultures. She traveled to Mexico to earn teaching credits so she could share the Spanish language and culture with her students, and she made several educational visits to European countries.

Maureen’s career as an educator began at Payson Middle School, and later at Springville High School, where she retired. She taught Honors and AP English, Spanish, and ACT Preparation courses, and also worked as the school librarian. She brought words and language to life, and her passion for communicating was tangible, always making those around her feel loved and valued. She helped students grasp difficult and confusing concepts and initiated a writing program at Nebo School District to teach middle and junior high school students how to write. Through that program, she published a book of students’ stories titled, “The Pilgrims Came Over on the Cauliflower.” In 1997, Maureen was awarded the Nebo School District Teacher of the Year. Nobody deserved it more! She worked for Independent Study at BYU and wrote many high school English courses where she interacted with students around the globe. Maureen expected a lot from her students and always provided a way for them to excel. She was a well-loved educator among her coworkers and students, many of whom remained in touch throughout her life.

While we are profoundly sad that Maureen has graduated from mortality, we are incredibly happy she has been reunited with other loved ones. She was preceded in death by her parents, Karl Jex and Lorna Hansen Koyle; her husband, Joe William Miller; her daughter, Susan Elizabeth Miller; and her son, Jonathon Paul Miller; and a brother-in-law, Robert Paul Miller. She is survived by four children, David Joe (Julie) Miller of Spring City, UT; Lisa Marne (Mark) Nielsen of Draper, UT; Andrea Kristine Jones of Salem, UT; and Katherine (Katie) Janae Miller of Salem, UT. She leaves behind 13 grandchildren who love her dearly, and 15 great-grandchildren that are the light of her life. Maureen is also survived by all of her siblings, Lorna Jean (Reed) Hyde of Layton, UT; Brent (Pam) Koyle of Columbia, SC; Duane (Kathleen) Koyle of Mapleton, UT; Mark (Laurel) Koyle of Spanish Fork, UT; and Kathi (Randy) Nielsen of Spanish Fork, UT; as well as siblings-in-law, Gary (Anita) Miller of Oregon; George Miller, Jr. of Georgia; and Diana (Stan) Santiago of New Mexico. We will always remember the many ways Maureen shared her infectious love of the gospel, learning, family, service, and hard work with others.

Funeral services for Maureen Koyle Miller will be held at 12 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at the Salem Utah West Stake building located at 695 South 300 West in Salem, Utah, with the viewing in the Relief Society room prior to the funeral at 9:30 a.m. that morning. The funeral services will be streamed for those who are unable to attend in person. Interment will follow at the Spanish Fork City Cemetery.

The family wishes to thank Symbii Home Health & Hospice for their care on Maureen’s behalf. We express special thanks to her RN, McKenna; her CNA, Amberlynn; her social worker, Lorna; and her chaplain, Allison, all of whom blessed her life and the life of her family by the way they cared for Maureen. We also wish to thank Walker  of Spanish Fork for attending to Maureen after her passing and treating her with dignity and respect. Please accept our sincerest gratitude.

God be with you ‘til we meet again, Mom. Our love for you is eternal.