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Janet West Miller was called to the presence of the Lord peacefully at home in San Antonio, TX, April 28, 2020, at the age of 91. She was born on October 14, 1928, in San Antonio to J.A. and Zula (Bell) West. Janet attended Baylor University in Waco, TX where she received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Music Education. She was a member of Baylor’s Golden Wave Band and was the only female in the percussion section during her time there. She was considered a highly accomplished rudimentary snare drummer and was Baylor’s first percussion graduate assistant. Janet was a lifelong fan of her Baylor Bears, attending Homecoming nearly every year and avidly following accomplishments of students and alumni on and off the field. She was first hired as an assistant band director of her high school alma mater, Harlandale, in San Antonio, becoming the first full-time female director of a large band program in Texas. Janet was among the first female members of the Texas Bandmasters Association. She started two school band programs in the 1950s and taught band for 13 years; then after marrying and starting a family, she returned to music education as an elementary music teacher in Harlandale. She retired in 1992 after teaching for 32 years and began volunteering at the Texas Music Educators Association’s annual clinic and convention. Janet enjoyed spending time with fellow retirees at the meetings of the Harlandale/South Bexar County Educational Retirees Association. In 2012 Janet was inducted into the Harlandale ISD Hall of Fame. Janet was a charter member of Baylor’s Iota Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma, a sorority for college and university band members. The sorority became her life’s work as she went on to serve as National President and Trustee. Janet was also an honorary member of the national band fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi. Janet was a faithful servant of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and throughout her life was a member of several churches including Harlandale Baptist Church, Trinity Baptist Church - where she played in the orchestra and especially loved playing in Living Christmas Tree productions, Northeast Baptist Church, and at First Baptist Church of San Antonio. Janet is now making music in heaven’s marching band and flinging her green and gold in the sky. Janet is survived by her husband of 57 years, DeWayne A. Miller, Jr., her daughter Dorothy Karon Miller Hammond and her husband David, her son DeWayne “Trey” A. Miller III and his wife Michelle, and her grandchildren James T. Miller, Nicole E. Miller, and Michael W. Miller. Janet was provided loving care by Celina Garcia for the last four years of her life, and medical care of Dr. Manuel Martinez, Dr. Gabriel Urrea-Botero, and the staff of Gonzaba Medical Group. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Baylor University Golden Wave Band Scholarship Fund, Office of University Advancement, One Bear Place #97026, Waco, Texas 76798-7026, the Tau Beta Sigma Trust Fund, ΤΒΣ National Headquarters, PO Box 849, Stillwater, OK 74076, or a charity of your choice. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 4, 2020 from 10:30am-noon at Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemeteries South, 1700 SE Military Drive, San Antonio TX 78214. Chapel Service will immediately follow at the funeral home at noon, where it will be live streamed. Interment will be at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery later that afternoon. Due to Covid 19 restrictions, a 10-person maximum will be allowed in the chapel at one time. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be announced later.

Tributes

Janet West Miller

October 14, 1928 - April 28, 2020