Tresa Lynn Underwood Miller passed away gently in her sleep November 25, 2021. Born July 14, 1936, she was the first child of Stanley M. and Lena Bales Underwood. Ever the overachiever, Tresa graduated from Carter High School in 1953 at 16 years old as valedictorian of her class. She went on to attend East Tennessee State College (now University) and graduated with honors in 1956 at 19. She was a member of the Phi Alpha chapter of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society. She obtained her graduate degree at the George Peabody College of Vanderbilt. It was at East Tennessee State that she caught the eye of Wade Miller, who made it his mission to track her down upon returning from active duty in the Army. She married him on June 4, 1959 in the first wedding performed in the newly rebuilt Trentville Methodist Church, Strawberry Plains, TN. She began her lifelong career as an educator in the Kingsport City Schools. She and Wade soon moved to Brentwood, TN and she began working in the Metro-Nashville school system teaching foreign language and English and then continued the rest of her career at Hillsboro High School as a counselor.
Tresa loved cats, owning her first one at age 5 and her last one at 83. She also enjoyed gardening, especially growing roses and violets, reading and cooking healthy food for those she loved. She was known for her unique biscuits and Arroz con pollo as well as cooking with little to no salt or fat, which she and Wade credited with his long life after his heart attack many years ago. She was ever the gracious hostess; her home was always open to family and friends passing through Brentwood or visiting Nashville and she always insisted on cooking for guests or treating them to Corky’s. She and Wade moved to Knoxville in January 2020, becoming residents of The Pointe at Lifespring, where they made many friends.
Tresa is preceded in death by parents, Stanley and Lena; brother, Stanley Underwood; and loving husband of almost 62 years, Wade. She is survived by her brother, Glyn (Vella) Underwood; sister-in-law, Shirley Underwood; brother-in-law John T. (Bette) Miller; nieces, Lianne Miller (Will) Elliott, MaryBeth Miller Griffin, Nancy Miller (Jack) Visgaitis; nephew, Conley (Gina) Underwood and Carol Underwood (John) Wilson; eleven grand nieces and nephews; and four great grand nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at Monte Vista Cemetery in Johnson City, TN on Thursday, December 2 at 12:00 pm. Please honor Tresa by making a donation to your local animal shelter and helping them find more “Cattys” forever homes. Arrangements by Bridges Funeral Home, 5430 Rutledge Pike, 865-523-4999. www.bridgesfuneralhome.com
July 14 1936 November 25 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Tresa Miller July 14 1936 November 25 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Knoxville, Province: T-N