Patsy Ruth McKemy Miller, a resident of Silver City, NM passed away on Friday, June 11, 2021. She was born the oldest of five children on September 6, 1926 in El Paso, TX to Hugh and Lucille McKemy and was raised in a loving home with her siblings, Mary Lou Smith, Silver City, NM; Felice Richardson, East Peoria IL; Hugh (deceased 4/9/2015) and Maureen Tschirhart of Castroville, TX.
She married Billy Miller in 1947 at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church in Silver City. Billy died on July 15, 2011. They were married 63 years. They had three children, Michael (Joni); Jan (David) and Billy Jack Jr., nine grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. She graduated from Ft. Hancock High School in Texas with the Class of 1943, enrolled in Nurses Training at Hotel Dieu in El Paso and received her Registered Nursing Degree in 1946.
She began her nursing career as a Registered Nurse and Superintendent of the Deming Ladies Hospital in Deming, New Mexico; worked at Hillcrest Hospital in Silver City and as a Public Health Nurse in Luna and Hidalgo counties. She also worked as an Operating Room Supervisor and Surgical Nurse at Memorial General Hospital in Las Cruces and as an RN in the Operating Room (OR) at Fort Bayard Veteran’s Hospital. She further worked as a Nursing Supervisor in the OR at Eastern New Mexico Medical Hospital in Roswell, as Director of Nursing and OR supervisor at Garza Memorial Hospital in Post, TX and ultimately retired in 1993 as Director of Nursing and Operating Room Supervisor at Fort Bayard.
She is an active member of the GRMC Auxiliary. She recently joined the Silver City Women’s Club and spent her final day enjoying time with the wonderful ladies and eating her favorite dessert Lemon Meringue Pie.
She was loved by many and touched many lives throughout the years.
A Memorial mass will be celebrated on Friday, June 18 at 10 am with Father Bartholomew Ezenwelem officiating. Inurnment will follow at Memory Lane Cemetery where both Billy and Patsy will be laid to rest. Cremation will take place at Terrazas Crematory. Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory “Trusted care for the ones you love” ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.