Ruth Iona "Miles" Scott

Ruth Iona (Miles) Scott was born on April 18, 1941, to Alton (Pop) and Frances (Granny) Miles in Princess Anne, Maryland. Iona, or “Boot,” as she was affectionately known, was the fourth child of this union. From a young age, Iona accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal savior and was a faithful servant of God.

Iona was educated in Princess Anne’s public school system, ultimately graduating from Somerset High School. She loved telling the story of how her brother William was her math teacher and gave her a “D” grade on her report card while they were both living at Granny’s house. At the age of sixteen, God gave Iona a vision, in a dream, revealing her life’s purpose. God told Iona that she was going to become an Eastern Star and that she would work in an office where she would dress professionally every day. This vision became the blueprint for her life.

After high school, Iona pursued elementary education at Bowie State University before transferring to Apex Beauty School in Philadelphia for her beauty culture license. After achieving her beautician license, Iona worked in beauty shops in Salisbury, Maryland, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Iona maintained her beauty license for many years and was an excellent hairdresser but found that the long hours were not conducive for raising young children. Iona then held jobs such as a nurse’s aide, data processor, and a hospital tray girl before being hired as a file clerk for Seidel Gonda, a prestigious law firm in downtown Philadelphia. After two years, she became a supervisor and then a paralegal for the law firm working there for twenty-seven years. While at Seidel Gonda, Iona received her Manager’s Degree and a Paralegal Certificate from the Opportunities Industrialization Center (OIC). Although her name was not on the law firm’s door, Iona truly did run the firm. After retiring from Seidel Gonda, Iona worked as a paralegal at Dupont Law Group for three years before returning to Princess Anne, where she took care of Granny until she passed. She then moved to Reading, Pennsylvania, to be closer to her family. While in Reading, Iona worked for the City of Reading, St Joseph’s Hospital, and the Reading School District before retiring for the final time.  

Iona fulfilled God’s vision by becoming an Eastern Star in Philadelphia in 1983 and remained active for thirty years. She rose to the position of Supreme Grand Royal Exalted Matron, which is the highest position that you can achieve as an Eastern Star.  

Iona enjoyed decorating for each holiday and bragging on her children and grandchildren. She especially loved Christmas and spending time with the Miles Family. Iona was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alton Miles, and three brothers: Alvin Miles, Beverley (Angela) Miles, and William (Frances) Miles. She leaves to cherish her memories her former husband, Thomas Scott; her daughters: Cheryl (Steven) Davis, Sharon Lewis, and Tonya (Wynton) Butler; six grandchildren: David (Tiffany) Lewis, Danielle Lewis, Allana Davis, Cassie Davis, Wynton Butler II, and Wesley Butler; two great-grandchildren: Ava Lewis and Carter Lewis; five brothers: Kairl (Merkie) Miles, Wayne (Joyce) Miles, Sherwood (Sadie) Miles, Donald (Faye) Miles and Lewis (Vielka) Miles; three sisters: Ethel (Wayne) Reed, Margaret Bratton, and Nancy Miles; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

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