May Violet Treahy Dobler Miller was born on January 19, 1886 in San Diego, California. She weighed eleven pounds at birth. Her parents were John Patrick Treahy and Matilda Jones Treahy.
In 1890 and 1891, May attended the San Dieguito School near the McKellar ranch and her grandmother, Eliza McKellar,was listed as her guardian. She met her second husband, Robert Miller,Sr. while attending that school
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In 1904 according to the San Diego Directory, she worked as a trimmer for Mrs. Emily Van Buskirk and was still living at home.
She married Leo W. Dobler on January 24, 1906 at St. James Church, San Diego, when she was 20 years old. Leo was born on April 28, 1877 in San Diego. His parents were Christian Dobler and Martene Knowth. The Dobler family operated one of the first brewerys in San Diego. It was in Chollas Valley. He is listed in the San Diego directory for 1901 as a butcher for C.S. Hardy, Arctic and Date. He enlisted in the 9th Infantry 1st Brigade of the National Guard on January 24, 1895 and served out his term.
They lived at #708 Kearney Avenue in San Diego. They had no children. May was left a widow when he died on November 15, 1913. He was buried at Greenwood Cemetery inSan Diego.
DOBLER--In this city, Nov. 15, 1913, Leo Dobler, husband of May Dobler, son of Mrs.Christian Dobler and brother of Emil Dobler and Mrs. R .R. Elliott of San Diego, a native of San Diego, aged 25 years 7 months 8 days.
Friends and members of the Knights of Pythias and Sons of Herniann are invited to attend the funeral services at the chapel of Johnson, Connell & Saum, Seventh and Broadway, tomorrow (Tuesday) at 2 o'clock p. m.Rev. A. K. Glover will officiate.Interment at K. ofP. plot, Greenwood cemetery.The services at the grave will be conducted by Red Star lodge, no. 153. K.of P.
After Leo's death, she lived with her brother-in-law and sister, John D. (Dot) and Nellie Miller, at 211 S. 28th Street She married Dot's brother, Robert W. Miller, Sr. (Bob) on November 23, 1914. He is described in detail in the section on the John and Victoria Miller family. Their children and life together are described in detail in the section on Robert and May Miller.
Her daughter, Hester, described how her husband, Bob, mined stones himself and had them made into earrings for her.
One time when she had been wearing them she suddenly realized she did not have them. The whole family frantically searched everywhere in the house and could not find them. All of a sudden May walked out the back door, down the steps and over to a small flower plot and picked them up out of the soil, leaves, and of course covered by the foliage. She sometimes had an uncanny sixth sense like this- just knew where something was or what had happened - unexplainable. They later put together that somehow they had fallen on the floor and she had swept them out when she swept the back porch and steps.
Hester also describes when she cut her hair.
She had been wanting to cut it for a long time in the 20s when everyone was doing it, but my father didn't want her to. Aunt Pit [Hester Johnson] and Uncle Will [William Johnson] came for a visit and mother got the courage to have it done then - morale support I guess.I remember we all teased her for days about being a 'flapper' until we wore the joke out and didn't dare mention it again. She never let it grow long again. She was so glad to get rid of all that hair.
She died in March 7, 1953 in Camarillo, Ventura County, California at age 67 and is buried next to her husband, Robert at Roosevelt Memorial Park.
Services Set for Mrs. M. V. Miller
Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m. today at Cleveland Mortuary for Mrs. May V. Miller, 66, of 2006 Trudie Dr., a San Pedro resident for 30 years.
