Francy Lea (Powell) Miller

FRANCY LEA (POWELL) MILLER

MUSCATINE, Iowa – Francy Lea (Powell) Miller, 78, died peacefully, surrounded by family, on April 16, 2026.

Francy was born March 3, 1948, in Muscatine, Iowa, the daughter of Kenneth McKinley Powell and Ida May (Stone) Powell.

Francy graduated from Muscatine High School, Class of 1966. After a blind date at the age of 15, Francy dated and married the love of her life, Henry Harold Miller Jr. They married on July 1, 1967, at St. Mathias Catholic Church. Francy was always busy helping her family, friends and others in the community. Early in life Francy worked in corporate but she was too creative, and entrepreneurial. She eventually began her own company, Corn-Silk, in her home. Her creations were sold all over the world. She owned the Avenue Emporium which housed many artists lofts above the store.  Eventually, she opened Serendipity Yarn Shoppe, where she encouraged novices and offered all things yarn to the knitters. She loved owning this shop and made many new special friends.

Along with raising her own children Francy was always volunteering. Over the years she was busy volunteering at Bingo for Hayes Catholic Elementary, co-sponsoring the Hayes Bazaar, Girl Scouts, Birth Right, creating prayer shawls for the community, .... and in her later years she was always seen knitting baby caps, booties and gowns for the NICU.

Henry and Francy loved to travel with family and friends. They enjoyed many special vacations oversea. Travelling to the NCAA tournaments with their close friend group was a highlight for many years. They also loved road-trips and spent many weeks on the road travelling the country.

Her greatest passion and love was her family. She adored her grandchildren and was always available to them.

Francy is preceded in death by her parents, great aunt, and mother and father in-law. 

She has left a legacy. Surviving in addition to her husband, Henry Harold Miller, are her daughter, Heather (Miller) Smith and husband Thor; son Scott Miller; son, Matthew Miller; and son, Samuel Miller and wife, Amber; 14 grandchildren, Noah (Kristin), Hannah and Indigo Hjelle (Chaniya) and Tessa (Eric), Landan (Madi), and Kaleb Smith; Chase (Mikayla), Caleigh, Kaden and Kennedy Miller; Travis (Samantha), Lucas, Arabella and Makayla Miller; one sister, Paula and her husband Ken Jones; and all her nieces, nephews, and great nieces/nephews.

A visitation will be held at Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home, on Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm, with a rosary service to follow. Online condolences: www.wittichfuneralhome.com.

Funeral Mass will be held at Ss. Mary Mathias Catholic Church in Muscatine, IA, on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 10:00 am. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Those who wish to remember Francy in a special way may make gifts in her memory to St. Mathias/Mary’s School or St. Mathias/Mary’s Catholic Church.

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