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Mrs. Phebe Miner
April 11, 2018

Obituary

Phebe Miner

Phebe Ten Broeck Stevens Miner, born on September 10, 1923 in Tewksbury, MA,  died on Wednesday, April 11 in N. Andover, MA after a brief respiratory illness. The daughter of John P. and Edith S.  Stevens, Phebe grew up in Plainfield, New Jersey, where she attended the Hartridge School. She graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1944, having served a year as Class President. During the war she was an active volunteer for the Red Cross in New York City.  In 1947, she married Joshua L. Miner III, the love of her life. In 1952 they moved to Andover, MA where, with their five children, Phebe and Josh became active participants in the Phillips Academy school community, in the town of Andover, and in the greater Merrimack Valley. By the time Josh died in 2002, they had enjoyed an adventurous 54 year marriage.
 
Phebe's and Josh’s home was a warm and welcoming hearth for students at Phillips Academy, for her friends and neighbors, and for her large, extended family. Many returning Philips Academy alums made regular house calls to see her, even as recently as a couple of weeks ago. To those she loved, and there were many, she was a fierce, loyal, and generous friend.
 
Phebe’s keen intellect, wide-ranging curiosity, and variety of interests, made for a full and deeply satisfying life, flavored with great quantities of humor. For decades, Phebe was known for her "tole painting" — a folk art which she practiced and taught in her home. Her "tray ladies" met weekly, creating wonderful decorative items.
 
Her passions went far beyond painting. She loved books, berries and birds. A history major and voracious reader, Phebe was never without something to read. She was a founding member of a book group which has met for more than 40 years. Some books were so treasured that she re-read them many times. Phebe also loved gardens and games. With her husband Josh, Phebe was a serious, longtime gardener of flowers, fruits and vegetables of nearly every stripe. Phebe loved picking fruit and making her famous jams and jellies—blueberry, raspberry, gooseberry, currents, and grape. Even after she left her home of 50 years on School Street, she was welcome to return to her berry patch at any time for a picking session. A fierce competitor, Phebe loved a challenging game, from bridge to the NYT crossword puzzle and beyond. Phebe also was an avid, lifetime birder who kept her bird book and binoculars close at hand in order to keep up with visitors to her many feeders. For years, she traveled to Florida in the winters—first with her husband and then with her daughters—to view migrating birds.

An active citizen, she was involved in AVIS (Andover Village Improvement Society); the League of Women Voters, the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Andover Chamber Music Society, and the Audubon Society among others.  Phebe was the first female director on the Board of the Governors Academy and also served on the board of the New England Wildflower Society.  In addition, Phebe was a longtime trustee of the Stevens Foundations.
 
She is survived by her brother, Peter Stevens, of Beverly, MA; and her five children—Phebe Richards (James) of Seattle, WA; Louise Miner (Rob Wilcox) of St Paul, MN; Josh Miner (Mary) of Boxford; John Miner (NelleAlexander) of Seattle, WA, and Daniel Miner of Durham. NH. Also surviving are twelve beloved grandchildren - Rebecca Goldman, Cricket McCleary, Jack Wilcox, Dan Wilcox, Lea Miller, Joshua Miner, Sam Miner, Travis Miner, Lucy Miner, Hannah Miner, Marilyn Miner, and Phebe Miner., six great grandchildren and 25 nieces and nephews.
 
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Massachusetts Audubon Society or to Outward Bound USA. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home of Andover.
 
Her memorial service at the chapel at Phillips academy on Saturday May 26, 2018 at 10:00 am. With reception to follow.

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Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home
390 North Main Street
Andover, MA 01810
978-475-5200