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HESTER Hester Miller died on July 9, 2011, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Born on November 3, 1920 in Morenci, Michigan to Russel and Bertha Myers, she grew up there and in Hillsdale, Michigan. Hester attended Michigan State University at East Lansing from which she graduated second in her class in 1941. In 1943, she graduated from the University of Michigan with graduate degrees in English Literature and Library Science. At University of Michigan she was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. Following graduation, she served a summer internship in the Theatre Collection of the New York Public Library. In the fall, she began a seven year stint in the Music and Drama Department of the Detroit Public Library. In Detroit she met and married Ransom Miller, one of her clients in the music department. In 1951, the couple moved to New York City where Hester worked in the Music branch of the New York Public Library. Following several years in New York, she moved around the country with her husband, working as a librarian at Johns Hopkins University, the American Association of Accountants, Michigan State University, Detroit Public Library (again), and finally the Albuquerque Public Library. She acted as the Arts Specialist at the Albuquerque Library from 1958 until her retirement in 1982. In the latter of those years, she organized and mounted, with the invaluable assistance of committed volunteers, several major exhibitions. At the time of her retirement, Mayor Harry Kinney declared "Hester Miller Day in Albuquerque". Hester belonged to a number of professional organizations, including the American Library Association, the Theatre Library Association, the Music Library Association, and the New Mexico Library Association, of which she served as President. She was also a member for several years of the local chapter of the Santa Fe Opera Guild, of which she served as secretary. Ransom and Hester enjoyed traveling, gardening, dining in interesting restaurants, and all kinds of theatrical and musical performances, including ballet, modern and ethnic dance, opera, musical theater, and plays. They also were enthusiastic sports fans - especially for the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. Hester was preceded in death by her parents; her stepmother, Helen; her husband, Ransom; her brother, Kurtz. She has no survivors, but she leaves many neighbors and caregivers whose friendship, kindness, and help she deeply appreciated. Jenison Klinger of About Seniors and the staff of Go-Fors, Inc. and Decades, LLC were endlessly supportive, kind, and helpful. At her request, there will be no service.
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