In Passing

James “Jim” Goodwin Miller

James “Jim” Goodwin Miller, 81, of Tucson, Ariz., passed away on Jan. 30, 2023. He was born on Dec. 30, 1941, in Cumberland, Md., and grew up in Hyndman, Pa., graduating from Hyndman High School in 1960.

He attended Frostburg State College (now Frostburg University) but interrupted his studies to join the United States Navy. He served four years, first stationed in Norfolk, Va., and concluding his service on the USS Independence.

After leaving the Navy, the family moved to Bel Air, Md., where Jim resumed his education at Towson State College (now University) while working full time at Bendix Corporation. During this time, he was an assistant coach for the American Legion Post 55 baseball team. After earning his Bachelor of Science in secondary education in 1972, he taught social studies and geography at Bel Air High School where he also coached baseball. After transferring to C. Milton Wright High School, he taught geography and social studies; coached baseball, football, and soccer; and served as assistant athletic director. In 2009 he was inducted into the C. Milton Wright High School “Coach” Hall of Fame and recognized for his leadership skills and his overall commitment to the athletes of CMWHS.

While teaching, he continued his commitment to lifelong learning through professional development and university courses and earned a master’s equivalent. After 29 years of service, he retired from Harford County Public Schools and, with his family, moved to SaddleBrooke where he worked as a guide at Biosphere 2 and later as a bellman and driver for Miraval. He also played softball on the SaddleBrooke team.

He was predeceased by his brother William Henry Miller, Jr., and his parents William Henry Miller, Sr., and Dorothy Evelyn Goodwin Miller.

Jim is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sharon K. Miller, his son William Jeffrey Miller, and his “sorta” daughter Dr. Cristy (Kessler) Zivanov.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to Archaeology Southwest, an agency dedicated to the preservation and protection of the Southwest’s archaeological heritage. Donations may be made by mail (300 N. Ash Alley, Tucson, AZ 85701), phone (520-882-6946), or online at www.archaeologysouthwest.org/join.

Please visit Jim’s online memorial at www.weremember.com/james-goodwin-miller/6x2v/memories for pictures and stories and to share your memories of him.

Mary L. Murphy

Mary L. Murphy, a 30-year SaddleBrooke resident, was born in 1929 in Berwyn, Ill. She passed away in January of this year at home with her family. Mary was blessed to have had a long and fulfilling life. In her early years, she was an accomplished competitive roller dancer and a proud Trinity Girl. At the top of her list of amazing accomplishments, she would cite the raising of four rambunctious sons and one reward, as she often called her daughter. True to form, she accomplished all of this while managing her home and, with her husband Ed, a custom home building company in Wheaton, Ill. Fortunately, it was not all work and no play for Mary. She and Ed did a lot of entertaining of family and friends in their home and loved to travel to typically warm locales like Mexico and Hawaii. Mary also never met a casino she didn’t like and was actually one of the few people who rarely lost. At least, according to her. She was also very supportive of her kids’ sporting activities and rarely missed any game. She was an avid golfer who really hit her stride when she and Ed moved to Naperville, Ill., and joined a country club.

Mary and Ed happily retired to SaddleBrooke in 1992. Here they continued the golf club life and enjoyed many outings, dinners, and drinks with friends. Mary was also a terrific gin player and enjoyed her weekly get-togethers with her girlfriends. In recent years she enjoyed hosting Christmas in Tucson with the entire family, which had grown to over 20 adult “kids.” Mary will be greatly missed but talked about and remembered often. She was truly one of a kind.

Mary is survived by her husband of 69 years, Edward (Ed), and children Mike (Donna) Murphy, Tim (Sue) Murphy, Kevin (Sue) Murphy, Maureen (Bob) Evans, and PJ (Jennifer) Murphy. Mary and Ed have nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Arrangements are pending.

Judith Page (Behmer) Smith

“A mother is someone who can take the place of all others, but whose place no one else can take.”—Cardinal Mermillod

Judith Page (Behmer) Smith, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, was taken to our Lord on Dec. 23, 2022, at the age of 85, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Judith (Judy to her friends) was an only child, born in Crawfordsville, Ind., in 1937. She later moved with her parents to Columbus, Ohio, where she grew up.

She met the love of her life, Meredith, on a blind date while she was attending college at Purdue University, where she was a proud member of Delta Gamma Sorority, and continued to stay connected to the sorority throughout her life. Judy graduated with a degree in Physical Therapy, and worked for many years as a Physical Therapist, in hospital and home health settings, both in Ohio and later in California.

Judy and Meredith (Jerry) were married in 1959. They had two children; daughter, Tracy (Smith) Henry, and son, Daniel Meredith Smith. Their marriage withstood the test of time, including a family move across the country to California, in 1972. They raised their family in San Jose, and watched their children marry and have children of their own. Tracy and her husband, Paul, live in Northern California, and Daniel and his wife, Beth, live in Southern California. Judy’s grandchildren, Lauren Christine Henry, Jason Daniel Smith, and Stephanie Eileen Smith, were the lights of Judy’s life.

Along with her family, Judy also had many other interests. She and Jerry square danced for years, and enjoyed traveling to meet friends for dance conventions. They also enjoyed spending time with their close circle of friends from Los Gatos United Methodist Church.

She loved volunteering in her community, starting when her kids were young, as president of the school PTA, and as a Girl Scout Troop leader. She continued this work even after she and Jerry retired to SaddleBrooke in Arizona in 1995. Judy volunteered at Tohono Chul Botanical Gardens, and was a longtime volunteer of Kid’s Closet, an organization created to support low-income children in the greater Tucson area and beyond. She also loved travel and other social activities, including bridge and Mah Jongg, and looked forward to playing with friends.

She was a wonderful example of kindness, incredible strength in the face of the evil of Parkinson’s, and deep love for her husband, her “Jer.”

In lieu of cards or flowers, donations can be made in her name to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at give.michaeljfox.org.