Margaret Louise Miller Bath passed away in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 19, 2016 after a courageous eighteen-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
Margaret was born on August 30, 1946 to Rosalie Sundberg Miller and Dale Van Miller in Ely, Nevada.
On January 29, 1979 Margaret married Thomas Albert Bath at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Ely. Margaret and Tom are the proud parents of Thomas Oakley Bath (Jenni Dalley), Andrew Dale Bath (April) and Paul James Bath (Becki). Margaret’s pride and joy in her life were her four granddaughters Jillian Tessie Bath, Evvan Rose Bath, Ava Rinda Bath and Emerson Miller-Jean Bath.
Education was very important to Margaret, and she was always learning about something. After graduating from White Pine High School in 1964, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree from University of Oregon in 1968, a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree in 1978 from University of Utah; and a doctorate in Pharmacy from University of Florida in Gainesville in 2008.
Margaret took great joy in life and lived with graciousness and enthusiasm. She loved going on adventures with friends and family, and loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. She took such an interest in others, and gave the absolute best hugs. Passionate, creative and kind, she always had a smile to share with those around her.
As the owner and face of Economy Drug in Ely, she represented the finest qualities of humankind through her compassion as a pharmacist and friend. She worked at separate times alongside both her father and son Andrew, and championed the growth of a thriving family business.
Margaret was a visionary community leader. She believed in her community, and worked effortlessly to support it. She was a founding member of the Ely Renaissance Society and the Great Basin Community College’s Foundation Board. She also served in leadership roles for the White Pine Public Museum and the St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church Vestry and Alter. After a medical outreach trip to Kenya, her concern over child hunger encouraged her to help found the Committee against Childhood Hunger (CACH) which provides nourishment to White Pine County Children.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Raymond Dale Miller. She is survived by her husband, children, and grandchildren, beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and thousands of cherished friends. Her legacy of hope, forgiveness and love will live on indefinitely.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to two community projects that Margaret’s passion and drive helped establish:
The Committee Against Childhood Hunger (CACH),
PO Box 151585, Ely, NV 89315
-and-
The Ely Renaissance Society,
PO Box 150028, Ely, NV 89315
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 26th at 11 am at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church. A Celebration of Life and luncheon at 12:30 pm at the Bristlecone Convention Center will follow. All are welcome to both. If you can’t attend, celebrate your memories of Margaret by giving someone new a hug that day.
Margaret’s remains will be interned in the St. Bartholomew’s Memorial Garden, a place she envisioned as a memorial to her father and a space of contemplative peace for all to enjoy.
So sad to lose such a valuable contributor to all mankind. It was my privlege to have know her and her entire family for many years. She will be missed by many people but mostly by her family. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family in this most difficult time. (We must all believe that God needed her home more than we did.
So sad to lose such a wonderful and generous person. She will be truly missed by many. We must simply believe that God needed her more than we did. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
our family new her well as we attended the same church. She was a friend to all. May she rest in peace.
Margaret was a wonderful and caring lady who will live on with everything that she left here including her great family. May she pass into the next life on the wings that she blessed us with while here. All that were served by her will miss her as well as those that were cared for by her and didn’t know it.
Saddened to read of Margaret`s passing. I knew her well while we were in the high school band, and will always remember the good times we shared . She will always be thought of as a wonderful,kind and caring person. My sincere condolences to you.
Margaret will be missed by so many she was one of the kindest people I have ever met. Always so friendly and helpful. She was so full of life I know we will miss her god bless her family and at this very sad time.
Margaret was a gracious and very kind person and a great woman of faith. You are all in our thoughts, hearts and prayers.
The day I heard Margaret passed I thought,,, well there was a fantastic lady, I was glad to get to know her. She always had a smile on her face no matter how bad her day, she touched so many in white pine and further. Tom, andy, I am so sorry for your loss
Dear sweet friend, Thank you for all your kind and loving words to our family, and for always a listening ear and heart.
Until we meet again,
Love Don, Raema, and family
Truly a great young lady! She was the spokeswoman for WP County and Ely in particular, just by her infectious smile and her consistent loving nature. Condolences to Tom and to her children and grandchildren. She will be missed but never forgotten.
I was so sad to hear about the loss of such a dear lady. She always had a smile and would take time to talk to me when I picked up my prescriptions. I had known her since high school. Her brother was in my class. They were a great family. Ely has lost one of its brightest stars.
As a member of the class of 1964, Margaret is always a part of all of us and as we went through our lives including military raising our children we always look forward to coming to her place and having an ice cream sundae, that was part of her love and her love for the community she will surely be missed.. May God bless her memory and her family… Manuel Edo Birch
I was shocked and saddened when I learned of Margaret’s death. Her sparkling personality and warm smile were an instant invitation to friendship. My condolences to Tom, Thomas, Andy, and Paul.
I am very saddened to learn of Margarets passing. My most sincere condolences to Tom and family. I haven’t been back to Ely for several years but I periodically look at the Ely Times website to keep up
John Plestina
Wolf Point, MT
My condolences to Tom and the family. Margaret truly was an unbelievable woman! I am ever so grateful that her father (Dale Miller) baptized my four children in the Episcopal church! After hearing him preach only twice (if I remember right) It helped to get me back on track to try to live a Godly life after being away from the Lutheran Church for so many of my younger years! I will surely miss Margaret when I go back to Ely for visits with family and friends!
I was truely shocked and saddened when I learned of Margaret’s death. She was always someone I went to see when I came to town. Always made me feel loved…She and I both had a son named Paul and they were best of friends until we moved from Ely. Her warm frinedly personality and genuine smile instantly made everyone feel comfortable and loved. This world will be a less joyful place with out her. Very classy lady. My condolences to Tom, Thomas, Andy, and Paul.
I did correspond with a few member’s of the “Class of 64” who attended the last reunion in 2014. There was always mention of Margaret and her involvement in the reunion as well as her supporting and important service to the citizens of Ely. Although I was unable to attend any of the reunions, I do have clear and loving memories of this wonderful and gracious classmate and lady I feel honored to of known. The few times I have managed to return to Ely, sadly, our paths did not cross. My sincere condolences to her family and to the citizens of Ely for this tragic loss.
My memories of Ely always include Economy Drug, Dale and Rosie Miller and their daughter Margaret. I worked at Economy Drug for several years and those times are dear to me. Taking my children as they grew up to Economy Drug and sharing those memories with them and Margaret were part of every trip. Margaret helped them create memories of their own at the same soda fountain I worked at. Her smile and hug every time she saw me always gave me a “welcome home” feeling. I will miss our visits. Rest in Peace Margaret and tell your folks hello for me.
It was my pleasure to plan a big family cruise for the kids and grandkids last year. I am so grateful she was able to build those memories for the family. I am sorry I did not make it back to Ely to see her. She was my neighbor for the first 16 years of my life and I remember so many lunches at her house when we would walk home from school. Rest in peace my friend – I know the family will cherish all their memories of you,
So saddened to hear of Margaret’s passing – what a kind, bright ray of light to this newcomer/short-time Ely dweller. Her spirit is strong and joyous and feels very alive. Much love to her extended family and the whole community who misses her.