Elia Miles Obituary

Jennifer Scheckla,  Elia Miles and Jace Scheckla
~~All sharing October 28 Birthdays a year ago today ~~
Photo submitted by Pat Ramelli

​            Elia Josephine Roberti Miles, 98, died Oct. 24, 2019, in Loyalton. She was born to Josephine (Dotta) and Alfred Roberti Oct. 28, 1920, on the Wherity Ranch, now part of the Roberti Ranch, in the middle of the Sierra Valley.
            Elia attended school through the eighth grade at the Island School, which was at the north end of Heriot Lane. The family had a horse that was strong enough to pull a cart, and she and her brother Elmer, who was five years younger, would ride in the cart to school, depending on the weather.
            After then she worked at the family dairy, milking cows. In her late teens she became acquainted with Bruce Miles, who moved to the Sierra Valley and did custom farming for local ranchers. They married on Jan. 4, 1941, in Reno. The young couple lived on the Roberti Ranch for a short time, then moved to the ranch on Highway 49 west of Loyalton and eventually purchased it.
            Elia and Bruce had three children: John Alfred, Virginia Elia, and Pamela Ruth.
            Elia was a member of many local organizations, including the Sierra Valley Grange, to which she belonged for 84 years, as one could belong to the grange organization as young as 15 years.  When she had reached her 80th year of membership, she attended the California Grange convention in Atascadero and received an honor for being the longest living member.
            She also led Echo 4-H when her children were members and not only chaperoned children at the Plumas-Sierra County Fair, but also exhibited ranch hay there on a yearly basis and is believed to be the longest exhibitor at the fair.
            Elia was also active with Plumas-Sierra Cattlewomen, Sierra County Republican Women, and Rotary Club of Loyalton; served in leadership with those organizations; and was honored as a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. She was also a member of the Board of Trustees for the Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District.
            She was a loyal member of the Loyalton Community Church, for which she served on the board and taught Sunday school for many years. She passionately pursued her relationship with Christ by giving of herself to many others in the community in word and deed. One of her ministries to other people was organizing the annual Christmas cookie packages that were sent to dozens of local military service members.
            It has been said by many that Elia loved and collected people and that everyone she met became family. Well known for her hospitality, she frequently hosted Rotary exchange students and others.
            Elia was one of the Loyalton High School Grizzlies’ greatest fans, faithfully attended home games, and was made an honorary Grizzly many years ago. Additionally, she was given an honorary Loyalton High School certificate of graduation in 2010 from the Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District.
            One of her greatest loves was traveling to meet and visit family. Her travels took her to Brazil, Wales, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Poland, Mexico, and Israel, as well as many other places. However, the objective of all of those trips was to connect with family—either Swiss blood relatives or those she came to call family.
            She is survived by her children John Miles, Virginia Roberts, and Pam Cheek; grandchildren Morgan Miles, Liesel Miles Finley, Heather Roberts Talbert, Dawn Roberts McCabe, Sarah Cheek Buckner, Beth Cheek Whitacre, Samuel Cheek, and Mary Cheek Cole; and 10 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Bruce Miles and her brother Elmer Roberti.
            A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Loyalton Community Church, with a luncheon reception following at the Sierra Valley Grange in Vinton.
            The family requests that contributions be made in lieu of flowers to any of the local organizations: Loyalton Community Church or scholarship funds for Rotary Club of Loyalton, Sierra Valley Grange, or Plumas-Sierra Cattlewomen.