Georgina (Nikotich) Miller

Georgina (Nikotich) Miller (Jean), our beloved mom passed away on Jan. 16, 2018 at Spokane Hospice House after a brief illness.

Jean, a 50-year resident of Cheney, was born in 1920 in Spokane to George and Anna Nikotich. A 1938 graduate of Rogers High School she attended Kelsey Baird Secretarial School.

Working for Bell Furniture Jean met her soulmate, salesman Michael Miller. She took civil service positions in Pasco, Wash. and at The Presidio in San Francisco. In July 1942 they eloped in Reno, Nev. and settled in Everett, Wash.

Mom worked various office jobs in Houston, Oakland and Norfolk while dad served in the Navy for World War II. In Chicago, Mike attended optometry school on the G.I. Bill and Jean worked at Ingersoll Steel earning her Ph.T. (putting hubby through).

They opened Mike's Cheney optometry practice and started a family in 1952 living in Spokane, Four Lakes and Cheney. Jean was a devoted wife and loving mother. She was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Optometric Association Auxiliary, Tilicum Club, American Legion Women's Auxiliary, Lady Lions and Chapter AJ P.E.O. Mom enjoyed flower gardening, cooking, reading non-fiction and watching TV.

From 1979 to 2007 mom was dad's secretary, retiring at age 87. Jean was preceded in death by Michael, husband of 64 years, her parents, brother and sister-in-law Sam and Ada Nikotich, sisters and brothers-in-law Sue and Mel Weipert, Ruby and Bob Wohrle and Neil Prior. Jean is survived by four children Cindy (Graham), Olympia, Wash., Steve, Cheney, Byron, Kennewick, Wash. and Carol, Cheney, her sister JoAnne Prior, Spokane, 17 nieces and nephews and multiple generations of nieces and nephews.

We thank Dr. Svetlana Cox, Providence Internal Medicine and Hospice House South for taking care of mom. Private interment was at Fairmount Memorial Park. A memorial service to celebrate Jean's life will be in the Spring.

Memorials may be given to Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 639 Elm St., Cheney, WA 99004, Chapter AJ-P.E.O c/o P.O. Box 158, Cheney, WA 99004, Cheney Food Bank, P.O. Box 614, Cheney, WA 99004 or Spokane Hospice House, P.O. Box 2215, Spokane, WA 99210. Visit her online guestbook at cheneyfuneral.com.