Carol Miles

Carol was born to David Cragon Ostler and Maud Mitchell Guenzi on July 8, 1943, at a military hospital in Las Vegas, NV. About the time of her birth, her father flew cartwheels around the hospital to celebrate. Carol and her parents lived in Las Vegas until her father was released from the Army Air force when they moved to Provo, UT where her parents started an electronic store. Then they moved to Billings, MT, in 1946. From a very early age, Carol was drawn to music and started piano lessens, quickly becoming an accompanist for not only her family’s church but also for Good Lutheran Church where she was paid for her talent. Carol also learned to play both the violin and the viola and was in her high school orchestra. Carol graduated with honors from Billings Senior High Class of 1961. She continued her music studies and earned a bachelor degree from BYU in 1965. Her senior recital was performed on the organ in the Salt Lake City Mormon Tabernacle. She taught piano and organ since 1964. She had also been an Elementary Music teacher in Missouri and in Colorado. She formerly was an organist for Berkeley Community Church in Denver. Since 1991, she has been the Organist for Westminster Presbyterian Church. During her formative years, Carol became her mother’s confident and best friend which made her grow up fast. Carol and her mother remained very close until her mother passed in 2007. She also stepped in to mother her younger siblings on many occasions including a few months raising her youngest brother Robert while her parents settled their divorce. Carol was always willing to help whenever needed upon request and often went the extra mile and with loss of sleep to accommodate others’ needs. She married Robert Edmond Miles on December 28, 1964. Carol and Bob divorced in the mid-1980s. They had four children. Carol’s love of her children was the only thing that was more important to her than her music. Carol’s feats include raising four awesome children, selling real estate, teaching music, providing reiki treatments, designing stained glass, cake decorating, etc. She greatly enjoyed traveling to different countries with friends and family members. She was also a wonderful listener and helped to facilitate positive outcomes. Carol was first diagnosed with cancer in 1992. Over the years she fought to keep cancer in remission, with two reoccurrences. On Saturday, October 10, 2015, Carol was willing to move on to her next life challenge, leaving her family and friends with an example of courage and tenacity. Carol is survived by her children: Rob (Linda) Miles, Cathi, Rebecca, and Christine; grandchildren: Kristen, Jared, Nathan, Jordon, Brandon, Jessica, Amina, Amani, and Reem. She is also survived by her siblings Diane (Mark Gale), David (Ellen), Blaine (Bobbe), and Robert (Mara).