Penny McDowell Miller, 63, of Port Arthur, Texas passed away on Friday, May 27, 2022 in Port Arthur, Texas. Penny was born in Port Arthur, Texas on December 2, 1958 to the late, Phillip Murphy McDowell and Willie Mae Melancon McDowell.

Penny is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, Texas and also a graduate of Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. Penny served her country proudly in the United States Navy.

Those left to cherish Penny’s memory include her daughter, Caitlin Mae Miller and her husband, Ross Karnes of Austin, Texas; sister, Susan Martinez LeBlanc of Nederland, Texas; brothers, Tod McDowell and his wife, Jeanie of Beaumont, Texas and Kirk McDowell and his wife, Kathy of Port Neches, Texas; and her loving nieces and nephews, Marcy Martinez, Sandra Bergeron, Timothy McDowell, Dawn Duplant, Laura Morris, Crystal McDowell, John McDowell, Tod McDowell, II., Hailey Lowery, Brooks Tally and Blake Tally.

Penny is preceded in death by her parents, Phillip Murphy McDowell and Willie Mae Melancon McDowell; and her husband, Daniel Joseph Miller.

In Lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made in Penny's honor to Paws for Heroes. To donate, please visit: www.pawsforheroes.com/donate or you can send a donation to Paws for Heroes 7941 Katy Freeway #175 Houston, Texas 77024. Paws for heroes is a non-profit that rescues dogs and professionally trains them to serve as companion dogs for veterans suffering from PTSD, at no cost to the veteran.

A gathering of family and friends will be held at Melancon’s Funeral Home in Nederland, Texas on Thursday, June 2, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. with the funeral service to begin at 2:00 p.m. Entombment will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Groves, Texas. Brother Robert Clark will officiate the services.