Eugenia Stallings Betts Miller (Genie), age 95, of Austin, Texas, died on Sunday, February 23, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Dallas, Texas, on September 22, 1929, to Oweta Stallings Betts and Isaac Franklin Betts, IV. She attended kindergarten at SMU and first and second grades at Bradfield School in Dallas. The family then moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, where she attended Southfield School through ninth grade. She graduated from Byrd High School after completing eleventh grade, as there was no twelfth grade in Louisiana at that time. Genie attended Randolph-Macon Woman’s College starting in 1946 where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa Society and served as Chapter President of Pi Beta Phi sorority. In 1950, she received a bachelor’s degree in political science. Upon graduation, she moved to Austin, Texas, where she earned a master’s degree at UT.
It was in Austin where she met the love of her life, Frank Roberts Miller (Bob), and they were married in 1951. They moved to Sherman, Texas, living there for three years and where their daughters Kathryn and Margaret were born. Subsequently they lived in Denison, Texas, for three years where they enjoyed living across the street from Bob’s brother Tom and his growing family. In 1957, the family moved to Austin where son Tom was born.
Genie was a long-time member of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, first attending services in the early 1950s. She served on the vestry, the Altar Guild, as a member of the Good Shepherd School board, and on the Columbarium Committee. She was a volunteer with The Junior League of Austin, serving a term as its president. She was chairman of the Austin Unit of Recording for the Blind and was on the boards of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, the Settlement Club, Austin Community Foundation, and Greater Austin Phi Beta Kappa Association. She belonged to the Open Forum and the Pi Beta Phi Alumni Club, serving as president of both organizations. She and Bob were founding members of Tarry House and belonged to the Coronet Club, the Headliners Club, and the Argyle.
Genie’s greatest joy was being a wife and mother, and her family was so fortunate to enjoy the happy home she and Bob created. With their family, Genie and Bob loved spending time on their motorboat the Cutty Sark, visiting Ski Shores, the Pier, and the NOS (Never on Sunday) lake house, which they shared with a group of fun friends. Genie and Bob introduced their children to favorite travel destinations including Cuernavaca, New Orleans, and Galveston. Bob and Genie enjoyed a wonderful group of life-long friends with whom they shared adventures both at home and abroad. While Genie enjoyed many exquisite meals at world-class restaurants over the years, she was most happy eating a Sissy Burger at Dirty Martin’s.
Genie will always be remembered for her elegance; her incredible mind; her ability to tell a great story; and her love of reading, classical music, and opera. Few will forget her integrity, humility, generosity, and kindness. Genie’s unwavering faith gave her the strength to accept many health challenges in her later years.
She was preceded in death by her husband Frank Roberts Miller (Bob), her parents Oweta Stallings Betts and Isaac Franklin Betts IV, and her sister-in-law Lois Dillard Miller. She is survived by daughter Kathryn Miller Anderson and husband Larry, daughter Margaret Miller Pierce and husband Michael, son Thomas Roberts Miller and partner Dawn Hollembeak, grandchildren Margaret Emily Meador, Nancy Kathryn Meador and husband Frédéric Grandgeorges, Benjamin Davis Roberts Meador, Kathryn Mickelson Pierce, and Timothy Miller Pierce and fiancée April Montgomery, and great grandchildren Tatiana, Thomas, Charlie Kathryn, and Georgie. She is also survived by brother-in-law Thomas Stanley Miller of Dallas and his family, and former son-in-law George Dee Meador.
Genie’s family gives special thanks to her beloved caregivers Almertha, Beverly, Brittany, Maria, and Victoria. Their devotion to Genie was steadfast and they became true friends to her and her family.
Obituary provided by Dignity Memorial.