The family of Patricia Mae Miller is sad to announce we lost Pat on the morning of July 3, 2026. She passed peacefully in her sleep, at her home after a brief illness. She was born Patricia Ludington to Fred Guy Ludington, who was part of a large pioneer family in Topeka Kansas, and Mildred (Scotty) Ludington, née Scott, on September 14, 1929. She graduated from Verdugo Hills High school, then in May of 1948 married John Miller. The next several years were spent raising children, 4 ultimately: Patricia Gail, John McDowell Jr, Kenneth Bradley, and Mark Ludington; and always a dog. John Sr. worked at Boeing. Pat kept busy with a variety of interests over the years, including gardening, creating stained glass art, beach combing, and the Enological society, where she helped out with the cooking for many of the wonderful dinners, fairs and festivals they held.

Eventually the kids were grown and Pat and John went out to play, via road trips in a camping van with mopeds in the travel trailer behind them, wandering the United States, Canada, and Mexico, much of it pursuing their genealogical interests, and just as much following whatever whim crossed their minds. They also went to more exotic locales, sailing through Scottish canals with their friends the Isbells, visiting the casa of the Benvenuti family in Mazatlan, roaming Bali or cruising wherever their impulses would take them. They also were avid campers, and purchased a piece of land on the southwest coast of Washington where the family frequently gathered and at times cooked the best salmon ever on an alder stake over the campfire, at others back to the basic hot dogs cooked on a stick. S'mores were a staple.

John passed away in 2005, leaving Pat to find other people to travel with, or to travel in the camping van on her own; she was in her 80s when she took the van to Colorado to visit Wolfwood Refuge in Colorado with her sister-in-law Vicky Miller. She became involved with the Mosaic dog rescue group, which gave her a lasting friendship with Janet Land and others involved in dog rescue. In all these years Pat was never without a dog, and couldn't let a dog pass by without talking to the owner and giving the pooch some affection. When she reached the point that she traveled less every Sunday evening was spent with her neighbor Patty Knudson watching movies. While Pat's favorite was "Secondhand Lions", their entertainment choices were eclectic and they also devoured "Breaking Bad" and "Better call Saul" .


She is survived by her daughter, Patricia Garner, granddaughter Shannon (Morgan) Stephenson, great grandsons Julian and Jacoby; granddaughter Disa Ausen, and great grandsons Zakary (Evelyn) Omtvedt, great, great granddaughter Harper; and great grandson Shane Omtvedt; granddaughter Kate Garner (Zack Sherman); son Kenneth (Regina) Miller, granddaughter Christina (Shawn) Larsen, great granddaughters Olivia and Madeline.

Pat was predeceased by her husband John McDowell Miller Sr., son John McDowell Miller Jr., son Mark Ludington Miller.

A celebration of life is planned at Pat's house, from 2 to 5 PM the 25th of July.