Alyne D. Miller Archer

Alyne Dare Gum Miller Archer of Abingdon, a resident of Harford County since 1959, lost her battle with Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia, Monday Aug. 10, 2009, surrounded by her loving family and very close friend, Diane Gambrill, who was like a daughter to her.

Born January 5, 1930, she was the beloved daughter of the late Aimee Sue Keyes and Harry Preston Gum of Cass, West Virginia, one of the founding families to settle in Cass. Cass was a Pulp & Paper Mill town, now known for the Cass Scenic Railroad which runs through their farm

She joined her mother in Baltimore when she was 16, and later married James L. Miller on Dec. 20, 1947. They raised three children while living in the suburbs of Baltimore and moved to Harford County in 1960 when their children were still very young, and has since then lived in the Bel Air area of Abingdon.

In later years she married C. Smallwood (Woody) Archer and enjoyed almost 20 wonderful years together until he passed in April 1998. They loved site seeing and long drives to the Eastern Shore, as well as, raising a huge garden of vegetables, strawberries, raspberries and orchards of fruit trees and had a herd of steers. Her daughter, Brenda, husband and children enjoyed helping them plant and harvest their crops. Brenda's children, as well as Jimmy's son, were always at their grandmom's house and one of their favorite things that they remember is always having coffee and something homemade together. That was very special.

Alyne enjoyed being a homemaker, and was an absolute wonderful cook. If she cooked it, you knew it was going to be wonderful! She enrolled her children in 4-H when they were elementary age, Jimmy was also in Boy Scouts, and taught them how to cook and preserve vegetables and fruit, as well as raising farm animals.

She has also worked at First National Bank in downtown Baltimore, and then Stanley Home Products, but mostly took care of her family, including taking care of her ailing mother during her many years battle with ovarian cancer when her children were young. Later she worked for Staff Builders, as a Home Heath Nurse, after earning her degree in nursing, and then made her home a home with "Project Home," taking in several men to help them from not being on the street, making them feel secure and loved again. She was very well known around Harford Co. for her beautiful antiques. She named her business "Betsy's Delight Antiques'" after the old name of Woody's farm in Abingdon.

Throughout her life, besides her children, her pride and joy was her beautiful azaleas and rose gardens and all her flower beds. She loved watching & feeding her birds, especially the hummingbirds. She was an avid German Shepard lover and belonged to the AKC and other organizations. Her dogs were shown for tracking and obedience and received many awards and ribbons. She was so proud of her championship dogs and their champion breed heritage, that she also raised several litters of pups.

She always worked extremely hard in what ever she did and excelled in it. All of her accomplishments in life were amazing. Alyne loved to sew, and wanted to be as good as her mother, who was a seamstress by trade. Alyne sewed almost all of her daughter's dresses from little children until after they got married. She even made Brenda's wedding gown, attendant's gowns, headpieces, and muffs they wore. She made many of her own special outfits too. She liked to sew from scratch and even redesign the pattern and made her own patterns.

She is survived by her children, Brenda Davenport and husband Jerry of Abingdon, Sharon Weiss and husband Armando of Miami, FL; James L. Miller, Jr. of Street, and daughter-in-law, Beth Day Miller of Newark, DE; six grandchildren, Sean W. Davenport and wife Tina of Glen Rock, PA , Joshua R. Davenport and wife Jen of Perryville, and J. Hunter Miller of Newark, DE; Sonya Evans, Armando Weiss III and his wife Barbie, and Ivette Weiss, all of Miami FL; ten great grandchildren, Sierra, Savannah, and Zander Davenport of Glen Rock, PA; Mason J. Davenport of Perryville; Dillion and Lauren Evans, Natasha and Johnny Weiss, Ashley Rodriguez and Audrey Sequeira, all of Miami, FL; and two brothers (Junie) Harry P. Gum Jr., and Ricky E. Gum, Cass, WVa.

In addition to her parents and husbands James Lonnie Miller, and C. Smallwood Archer, she is predeceased by two babies who died at birth, her sister Juanita Cassell, and brothers Guy and Arthur Gum, her beloved niece Carolyn Cassell Estelle, and Wayne Walker, the young man she took care of for years who became very close to her & her family, known as the "Walking Man," and her companion of 6 years John Abbott.

Pallbearers are her son and grandson James L. Miller, Jr. and J. Hunter Miller, son-law, Jerry Davenport and Armando Weiss; Grandsons, Sean, and Josh Davenport.

Those who desire may contribute to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 11350 McCormick Road, Executive Plaza III, Suite 100, Hunt Valley, MD 21031.