Billie Rae Miller

Billie was born on December 2, 1984, 19 days past her due date, to Laura and William (Bill) Miller (deceased). From the beginning, Billie was adventurous, full of spunk, had a vivid imagination and enjoyed pushing things to the limit. She lived life to the fullest, setting goals and fulfilling many of her dreams. She had the desire to excel and was a strong-willed ambitious person, from her first job on a paper route at 10 years old to ownership of Billie Rae Miller (rental) Properties acquired in 2017.

Billie was a honor graduate of Calumet High School Class of 2003. She was in band, track and basketball, a member of the German Club, SADD chapter, Drama Club, National Honor Society and earned a Student of the Month award. She was passionate about her four years as a JROTC cadet earning many awards for Academic Excellence, Community Service and Leadership. As a junior, she was named Officer of the Year and was the Battalion Commander during her senior year. She also enjoyed karate, figure skating, softball, gymnastics, snowmobiling, 4-wheeling and bowling for many years.

She was awarded a ROTC Army scholarship to Northern Michigan University. At NMU, she earned several ROTC Academic Excellence and Leadership Awards, completed the Student Leadership Fellowship Program and NMU Superior Edge Program, both recognizing superior academic achievement. She was a charter member of Alpha Lambda Delta (for academic excellence in college freshmen). Billie graduated in 2007 with a bachelor of arts in psychology, summa cum laude.

From 2004 until 2010 Billie fulfilled many of her travel dreams, spending time in Europe with visits to London, Amsterdam, and Prague and touring much of Germany and Romania. She traveled in the U.S. from San Francisco to Boston and lived briefly in Colorado, South Carolina and lower Michigan.

Billie enjoyed working at several local businesses. This past year she worked briefly at Subway and the Calumet Theatre. In her youth she worked at the Northgate Motel and John’s Restaurant, at Subway during high school and college and was store manager prior to college graduation; at the Calumet Theatre from 2007 until 2012 as the box office manager; and at Miller’s Lanes as a co-owner.

On October 13, 2016, she married Charles (Chuck Hill) Miller. They enjoyed dancing, karaoke, movie nights, video gaming, getting tattoos, shopping at Goodwill, Taco Bell, practicing self defense techniques, long walks and helping others.

The daughter of Billie and Chuck Miller, precious baby Eris Aurelius Miller, 7lbs 4oz, was born on January 1, 2018, at Aspirus Keweenaw Hospital. She was the spitting image of her lovely mother. We were blessed to spend time with her at Aspirus and at the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital NICU in Grand Rapids until her passing on January 10, 2018.

Billie leaves behind her husband, Charles (Hill) Miller; beloved, mother Laura Miller; sister, Loralee Miller (Josh Kocjan); grandmother, Catherine Lee; her Papa Bear Art Limback who was like a step-dad to her; in-laws, Jeff and Connie Hill; her fur baby fat cat Xena; many loving aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Baby Eris is also survived by those mentioned above.

Billie will be remembered for her beautiful smile and eyes, her humor, her mischievousness, her kindness, her tattoos, her stubbornness, her ability to discuss any topic, her mentoring, and her strength to work with the challenges in her life.

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” Billie and Eris created those moments that took our breaths away. We will hold them in our hearts forever with love that never ends. We believe that God must have needed more angels and chose these two with careful thought.

Visitation will take place at the Erickson-Crowley- Peterson Funeral Home on Thursday, February 8, 2018, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 pm. A memorial service begins at 6:30 p.m. at the funeral home, with a celebration of Billie and Eris’ lives to follow at the Siskiwit Reception Hall.

Online condolences for the family may be left at ericksoncrowleypeterson.com.

The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home in Calumet is assisting the family with the arrangements.