Sarah May Coombs Hansen Miller passed away on July 16, 2026, in Flagstaff at the age of 99. A devoted mother, grandmother, sister and friend, she is survived by her six children, Keith (Beth), Ron (Janice), Debra (Ken Nielsen), Marsha (Roy Keller), Jolene (Sam Fisher) and Stephanie (Neal Farr); 24 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren; and her brother, Vard Coombs.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ross D. Hansen; her son, Steven; and her second husband, Jay N. Miller.
Sarah May was born in Boulder, Utah, to Ephraim and Florence Coombs, and was raised in what would become a large family of 14 children. Her early years were shaped by hard work, faith, and the simple joys and challenges of rural life.
Following her graduation from Wayne High School in October 1945, she moved to Salt Lake City and obtained employment at Western Union Telegraph Company as a clerk-operator, earning 40 cents per hour. Her clerical skills also enhanced her ability to perform genealogy research in a world that includes the use of computers, which she wholeheartedly embraced.
A lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sarah May’s faith guided every aspect of her life. She served four missions for the Church, beginning at age 21 when she was called to the Northern States Mission in Chicago, Ill., where she met Ross D. Hansen of Joseph City. They married on June 4, 1951, in the Salt Lake City, Utah, temple and became the parents of seven children. She and her family also hosted Edmund Bailey in their home for two school years in the early 1970s.
Sarah May was known for her love of God, unwavering devotion to her family and lifelong commitment to serving others. While Ross taught at both the junior high and elementary school levels, she dedicated herself to creating a loving home and supporting her family through her many talents, including cooking, sewing, gardening, and preserving fruits and vegetables. Her industrious spirit and generous heart blessed not only her family but also countless friends and neighbors.
Family history work was one of Sarah May’s greatest passions. She spent countless hours researching, preserving and sharing her family’s heritage, while helping others discover their own ancestral roots.
After the passing of Ross, Sarah May married Jay N. Miller. They enjoyed many years serving and travelling together; as well as closely associating with Jay’s children and spouses, along with his grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Even after being widowed, she continued to live a vibrant and active life. She enjoyed daily swims at the local pool, performed as a “Dancing Granny” with a clogging group, created beautiful quilts, took piano lessons and faithfully served in the Snowflake Arizona Temple.
Sarah May leaves behind a legacy of faith, love, service and enduring friendship. Her example of hard work, compassion, and devotion to family will continue to inspire the generations who follow her. She will be deeply missed by all who were blessed to know and love her.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Joseph City. A visitation will be held starting at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow at the Joseph City Cemetery. The service will be livestreamed at: https://www.youtube.com/@josephcitysundayservices
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Bread of Life Mission in Holbrook (bolmaz.com) or to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Humanitarian Fund (give.churchofjesuschrist.org).
