Tarah Lorraine Luke

Tarah Lorraine Luke of Stockbridge, Georgia, passed away on October 24, 2026, after a prolonged fight with cervical cancer and leptomeningeal disease. She is survived by her husband of 15 years, Hendry Miller of Stockbridge, Georgia; parents James and Jodie Luke of Puyallup, Washington; brother, sister-in-law, and nephew Cody, Allie, and Hudson Luke of Tacoma, Washington; mother-in-law Ann Miller of Winder, Georgia; brother-in-law, nephew, and niece Kater, Isaac, and Isla Miller of Fredericksburg, Virginia; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Born September 27, 1982, in Loveland, Colorado, Tarah lived in California and Oregon before settling in Puyallup. Tarah studied at the University of Washington, earning a Bachelor's in History in 2004. She continued her education at Colorado State University (MA 2006) and at Florida State University, completing her PhD in 2016.

Tarah worked as a historian, educator, researcher, author, and archivist. In her historical studies, she focused on Napoleonic Era France and the Early Republic United States. Tarah taught courses on 19th-century Europe and American history. As an author, her work appeared in several journals and encyclopedias. In 2020, Tarah was a co-author of This Day in Florida History.

Tarah voraciously read fiction and nonfiction alike. She was working her way through the comprehensive 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. She completed more than 1000 books, though the list editors made frequent updates to the list. Tarah grumbled about the ever-evolving list, but being a completist, she desired to read all of the 1300+ books that ever appeared on the comprehensive list.

An avid gardener and crafter, Tarah exhibited her handiwork and produce at various public events, winning blue ribbons at the North Florida Fair for crochet work. Tarah kept meticulous notes about her rose garden and mapped roses by type and color. She focused her crafting attention in the past few years on quilting and developed increasingly intricate piecing and quilting skills. Tarah completed and donated several quilts to Quilts for Kids.

A fond lover of animals, she raised several rescue dogs over the years, including Katie, Max, Teddy, Ralphie, and Roxy. She also donated to animal relief efforts, humane societies, and animal rescues.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local animal shelter, the Emory Winship Cancer Institute, Friends of Disabled Adults and Children, the Atlanta Area Cancer Care Foundation, or Pennies with Purpose.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.