After living at least 80 of her almost 101 years on a small farm between Thorndale and Rockd ale, Edna Lora Dockall Miller passed away peace fully there on Aug. 3, 2025, with her family around her. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8, at Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale with Deacon Gordon Dickerson officiating.
The family will receive visitors an hour prior to services at 10 a.m.
Burial will follow at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Rockdale.
Born on Sept. 15, 1924, to parents George and Lizzie Stolte Dockall, she grew up in the Gay Hill community with her parents and three siblings (Albert, Frank, and Mamie).
She attended the small Gay Hill School until she and two siblings transferred for a brief few weeks to the Nile School, then rode the bus to Thorndale. (Frank attended the Austin School for the Deaf.)
Edna never lived far from where she grew up except for a few years after she met Pat Price Miller, the youngest son of Emil and Myrtle Miller of the Rockdale/Pleasant Hill community.
The young couple married on June 1, 1940, and moved to Bisbee, Arizona.
Before 1944 they returned to Rockdale to start their family.
Then Edna lived again on the Dockall home place with her parents, her infant daughter, Edna’s sister Mamie, and Mamie’s first daughter – while the two young women’s husbands were in military service during World War II.
After Pat’s discharge from naval service, the couple settled in Rockdale and had two more children (Laddie Wayne and Charles Edward).
In 1954 they purchased the property Edna’s parents had leased during her youth and early marriage.
The couple’s three children graduated from Thorndale High School and Edna never moved away from her farm.
She survived the deaths of her husband; her own parents; her siblings and their spouses; Pat’s parents, plus his four siblings and their spouses; her daughter-in-law, Sandy Lee Miller; her only son-in-law, Trent Klopp; as well as several nieces, nephews, and friends.
After Pat’s death in 1984 (following almost two years of treatment at Houston’s M.D. Anderson Cancer Center), Edna went back to her job as a clerk at J.B. White’s in Rockdale, built the new home that she and Pat had intended to build on their homestead, and relied for a few years on help from her children to keep up her small cattle herd and fields.
Then she collaborated with her oldest grandson, Darron Miller, to become (first) her foreman and then her partner on the farm. He built his own home beside hers, and he purchased (after her retirement) most of her land and her part of their cattle herd.
For the rest of Edna’s life, Darron remained her devoted care giver and the “Miller Compound” — consisting of Edna’s home, Darron’s, and the newer home of her oldest great-grandson (Tyler), his wife (Kali), plus Hudson (6) and Ensley (3) — became a major source of Edna’s pride.
As matriarch of a growing family, Edna (a.k.a. “Mother,” “Mom,” but “MeMa” to most) loved to visit in family homes and to host get-togethers at her home, especially on holidays.
She was a wonderful cook. Ever yone loved the fresh homemade bread and delicious treats that she tried to keep on hand for drop-in company.
She enjoyed making the favorites of family members for their birthdays and Christmases. She loved to can and jars of her dill pickles disappeared fast, one of them bringing $80 at a Thorndale auction. Best of all, Edna loved her own turkey and dressing and, in later years, most family cooks attempted to use her recipes, trying not to disappoint her as time took away the energy she needed to prepare them all herself.
Extended family, friends, and neighbors were always invited to share in the bounty of her table, which (with her family’s help) remained unsurpassed. Those who knew Edna best could hardly believe that she enjoyed Dairy Queen’s chicken ’n dumplings as much as her own.
Edna’s years after Pat’s death were busy and joyful. No one enjoyed a party, babies or children more than Edna did. She sometimes babysat little ones in the family, delighted in remembering birthdays and celebrating Christmas, when she always placed some money in eggs or in envelopes for family youngsters. She purchased piggy banks for every new baby. It was a treat to witness her watching little ones hunt for Easter eggs, tear into gifts or squirm in her lap.
She loved gardening and working with her “pot” plants.
She went through books of word puzzles fast.
She even traveled to Hawaii and Alaska with her daughter and son-in-law.
She had always loved dancing and, in years after she became a widow, formed a lifelong friendship with John Kincaid of Thorndale. Her dance partner in their first few years as friends, John became not only a dear family friend but also a willing care giver.
After a stroke left Edna’s family wor ried about her spending nights alone, John moved in with her to help her remain in her home — perhaps also to enjoy her cooking for as long as possible.
Edna’s family ex tends hear tfelt thanks to Darron (who was always there for both Edna and John), and to Edna’s oldest granddaughter, Melinda Kurtz (who used her nursing skills to coordinate Edna’s care, keep everyone informed and lovingly supply whatever her grandmother needed).
Laddie and dear fami ly friend, Pat Sansom, and Charles and wife Cindy had major roles in Edna’s care. Pat(sy) checked on her mother by phone every day. Edna’s youngest granddaughter, Cathy, as well as great-granddaughter Jordan, and Kali — all nurses or care capable — stepped up when necessary to complete round-theclock care.
Tyler and Kali took responsibility for keeping up Edna’s yard.
As Edna’s mobility and John’s health declined, John’s son Brian and daughter-in-law Ralinda also became part of the “village” of care givers.
Sincere thanks go to members of Baylor Scott & White Hospice, Visiting Angels and other professional care givers, and to all other relatives, friends, and neighbors who made Edna’s last years more enjoyable — stopping in to help with chores or visiting, bringing produce from their gardens, making a phone call, or sending a card.
Edna is survived by her three children, Pat(sy) Klopp, Laddie Miller and Pat Sansom, Charles Miller and wife Cindy; plus five grandchildren, Darron Miller, Bo Miller and wife Laura, John Miller, Melinda Kurtz and husband Michael, and Cathy Sanders; several great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren, Tyler Miller and wife Kali, children Hudson and Ensley; Price Miller, wife Alexis and daughter Charlotte; Jake Miller and wife Mary; Jordan Kurtz; Garrett Kurtz and wife Kirstin; J.C. Miller; Harlee, Reagan and Brody Sanders; Marissa Martinez Lucius; Dylan Roberts, wife Jaclyn, and children Teagan, Knox, Blakelee and Autumn; and Taylor Roberts Patek, husband Chris, and son Mikah; plus John Kincaid and son, Brian, and wife Ralinda, and ex-daughter-in-law Sandra Leaf.
Edna also leaves behind the Thorndale First Baptist Church family that she loved. Members Jack and Della Cummings were frequent visitors at the Miller home. The family appreciates Deacon Larry Beard for keeping in touch with Edna and her family and Deacon Gordon Dickerson for conducting her final service.
Pallbearers will be Darron Miller, Bo Miller, John Miller, Tyler Miller, Price Miller, Jake Miller, Garrett Kurtz, J.C. Miller and Brody Sanders.
Honorary pallbearers are Laddie Miller, Charles Miller, John Kincaid and Brian Kincaid.