Mary Sypert Miller, age 98, passed peacefully from this earth in the early morning hours of November 26, 2025, after a short illness.

A life‑long resident of Harrison County, Mary was born January 16, 1927, to Henry Clay Sypert Jr. and Jewel Evans. She graduated from Hallsville High School in 1943. She attended Kilgore Junior College before transferring to the University of North Texas, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. She continued her education with graduate studies and earned a Master of Education and a Master of Library Science.

On June 3, 1948, she married James Truman Miller of Pickton, Texas. Along with her role as homemaker and mother, she taught at Pine Tree ISD, Harleton ISD, and retired from Marshall ISD in 1992. She loved teaching and had a great love for children.

Mary and her family regularly attended the First United Methodist Church and took part in church activities throughout her lifetime.

She could experience her creator by the smell of falling raindrops, fresh‑cut meadows, and flowers. She loved the peaceful waters of Lake Cherokee.

Mary was always a private person with a friendly, upbeat quiet way and a competitive spirit. She was a devoted lover of pets. Simba, her last cat, brought her great joy. She loved reading good books or playing a lively game of bridge with her friends. She was also an accomplished 42 player. Friday nights were for eating out and playing dominoes. Many of her friends spent July 4th and New Year's Eve together.

Preceding Mary in death was her husband, James T. Miller, and her parents, Henry Clay and Jewel Sypert.

She is survived by her son Mike C. Miller and his partner Liz Solomon of Marshall; a granddaughter, Elise Lyle Miller of Houston and her mother Margaret I. Lyle; bonus grandchildren Lavyn Cupples Taylor (A.J.), Thomas C. Solomon V., and Jonathan Young; and a large and loving extended family.

We thank Linda Knowlton, Ana Holt, Jaime Holt, Tish Jones, the staff at Reunion Inn, and the staff at Marshall Manor for their kind care of Mary and extend special thanks to Karen Roberts for the loving care and friendship she gave Mary. We are grateful to Mary Cherry for the companionship and support she gave Mary. We appreciate Dr. Pham and Dr. Allman for the excellent medical care they provided Mary.

A funeral will be held on Saturday, November 29, 2005, at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Downs Funeral Home in Marshall. Interment will follow at Hallsville Cemetery. A visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 1:00 p.m., in the Chapel.