Ellis LaRue Miller, age 12, met Jesus face to face on Sunday, January 4, 2026. She was the daughter of Brian and Fonda Miller, of Mill Spring, NC. She accomplished much in her 12 years of life. She had a love of reading, volunteered at the Foothills Humane Society, sold her specialty soaps at the Landrum Farmer’s Market, ran on the cross-country team at Polk County Middle School, assisted her mom in teaching Children’s Church on Sundays and had a very active social life with her many friends. Surviving is her mother, Fonda Miller; grandparents, Pam Cross of Spartanburg, SC, David and Anita Miller of Mill Spring, NC; aunts and uncles, Tiffany (Dennis) Sailors, Karen (Dave) Jones; cousins, Cassie (Dustin) West, Trey Sailors, and Leyton West.

She was preceded in death by her father, Brian Miller, and grandfather, Arthur Cross.

There will be a Celebration of Life service on Saturday, January 10, 2026, to be held at the Columbus Baptist Church in Columbus, NC, at 2:00 PM. Receiving friends will take place on Friday, January 9, 2026, from 5:00-8:00 pm at the church. The service will also be streamed live via Columbus Baptist Church’s Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, we are asking that donations of catfood, dogfood, treats and toys be brought to the service and placed in the front of the sanctuary in Ellis’ memory to be given to the Foothills Humane Society. Monetary donations can be mailed to Foothills Humane Society, 989 Little Mountain Road, Columbus, NC, 28722 in Ellis’ memory. Additionally, donations can be made to the Polk County Public Library, 1289 West Mills Street, Columbus, NC, 28722.

McFarland Funeral Chapel & Crematory