Obituary of Deborah Jean Miles

Deborah Jean Miles

1956-2023

Deborah Jean Miles, 67, died peacefully at Breakwater Commons in Rockland, Maine on November 18, 2023, after a long illness. She was born on April 1, 1956, the third daughter of Andrew and Eunice Miles of Clinton, Maine.

Debbie was a 1974 graduate of Lawrence High School, Fairfield, Maine, where she was a talented student with gifts as a writer, singer, dancer, actor, artist and cheerleader. Debbie was an active member of the Clinton Baptist Church, attending and serving in the VBS, Sunday School, and Youth Group programs. One of her relished accomplishments while in the teen group was the successful summit of Mount Katahdin, crossing the Knife Edge with other intrepid hikers.

As an older teen, Debbie served as a counselor at Camp Fair Haven, Brooks, Maine for several years. She attended UMO then later graduated with honors in 1991 from New England Baptist Bible College, South Portland, Maine. Her deep and abiding faith led her to involvement as a Bible Study leader, in Women’s Ministry events, as a dedicated student of Scripture, and as a faithful prayer warrior.

Throughout Debbie’s vocational life, she wore many hats: waitress, nanny, first director of Abri Crisis Pregnancy Center in Rockland, Maine (1993-1997), caregiver and cook in many private homes, house-sitter for vacationing families, med tech and caregiver at multiple group home facilities in the Knox County area, and pottery glazer at Noble Clay in Tenants Harbor.

Debbie maintained a multitude of friendships, beginning with those closest to her at the Pleasant Street neighborhood in Clinton during her childhood years. Lifelong friendships were made wherever she resided, whether in Maine or other states. Each relationship was a blessing to her, as was she to those who knew her.

Debbie was an avid reader, including the genres of poetry, science and nature, comics, science-fiction, children’s literature, theology, and devotional readings. She loved old movies and musicals, using them as prompts to create her many original plays and skits for sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews, and neighbors. Her maternal grandparents’ barn provided the stage for action, especially for Halloween spook-houses. Debbie reveled in outdoor experiences and was never happier than when making solo expeditions and discoveries. She loved swimming, hiking, biking, bird watching, ice-skating, crafting with natural materials, and finding yard-sale treasures with her mother. Debbie was the first in the family to embrace computer technology skills. One of her earliest self-published booklets was a Christmas cookbook designed in collaboration with her sister, Andrea, highlighting some of her delicious recipes and concoctions.

Debbie was dearly loved and is sorely missed. She is survived by her sisters, Elizabeth Miles Diamond and husband John W. Diamond of Warren, RI; Andrea Miles Veilleux and husband Brian T. Veilleux of Thomaston, ME; Joan Ellen Miles and husband Spencer L. Drury of Eustis, ME. Debbie is survived by loving nieces and nephews, Michael Diamond and Jonathan Diamond; Kathryn Armstrong Turansky and Gordon Armstrong; Jacob Veilleux, Jessica Veilleux Maloney, and Abigail Veilleux; Joni Jabar (Zarate) and Anthony Jabar. She is also survived by grand-nieces and nephews Gracie and Emmett Diamond-George (mother Kelly George); Livia and Riley Diamond (mother Megan Steele); Andrew and James Turansky (father Thomas Turansky); Sidney Armstrong (mother Emily Obenhaus); Eli Maloney (father Dylan Maloney); Raz Zarate (father Ramon Zarate); and numerous dearly loved paternal and maternal cousins. Debbie was predeceased by her beloved parents, Andrew and Eunice Miles of Clinton, ME for whom she had the privilege of providing devoted care during the last years of their lives; sister Nancy Miles Armstrong, brother-in-law Jeffrey B. Armstrong, and niece Jenna B. Armstrong of Thomaston,ME; great-niece Allie S. Maloney of Cushing ME; and many cherished paternal and maternal aunts and uncles. All were captivated by Debbie’s charm, passion, creativity and wit. They spent many hours in her presence and their lives were forever enriched by her generous and loving spirit.

A spring memorial service and committal will be held on Saturday, June 8, 11:00am at the Brown Memorial Methodist Church, 36 Church Street, Clinton, Maine. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Debbie’s name may be made to Zoe, A Women’s Center, 1056 Commercial Street, Rockport, Maine 04856. A full obituary, memories, photos, and condolences may be accessed on-line at directcremationofmaine.com.