Gendie Miller GoFundMe raises over $50,000 for the family of a Pennsylvania mom killed by a tree at her daughter’s softball camp

A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family of a Pennsylvania woman, Gendie Miller, after her tragic death on Wednesday, July 23. She was attending a softball camp at Renziehausen Park in McKeesport, PA, when tree branches fell over her, ABC-affiliated WTAE reported, citing witness accounts.

The fundraiser, created by Michael Mull of Jefferson Hills, has garnered community support within a few days of its launch. Many have donated to help the Miller family with medical/ambulance bills, funeral expenses, and more during the tough time. The GoFundMe has raised over $50,000, while many have shared their messages with the Millers.

Michael Mull, who coaches the Pennsylvania-based softball team Nitro Fastpitch ‘26–‘27 with Gendie’s husband Bill, also wrote about the family:

“He [Bill] has and would give the shirt off his back for anyone that needed it. Marlee [Gendie’s daughter] is like another daughter to me as I would do anything for her, and I always jokingly told Gendie she’s the 2nd wife I never wanted because she’d always mess with me like my own.”

Mull further encouraged everyone to contribute and help Bill and Marlee, and added:

“Although it doesn’t bring back their loved one, it takes a little bit of the burden off of coming up with funds they don’t have right now for something so sudden and unexpected. Anything else desired to be mailed instead of going through this, please message me. Thank you all!”

Gendie Miller was rushed to a Monroeville, Pennsylvania-based hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival

According to WTAE, Gendie and Bill visited the Western PA College Showcase Camp in McKeesport’s Renziehausen Park on Wednesday to support their daughter Marlee. Michael Mull revealed on the GoFundMe page that the couple moved under “a large shady tree” due to the scorching temperature.

Under the tree, they heard cracking sounds around 7:00 p.m. before branches fell over Gendie. Bill recalled (via WTAE):

“I said to my wife, 'Let's go.' I jumped out of my chair, felt a small branch of some sort that grazed my leg. And I immediately turned to my right to look back at her, and she was face down with large, multiple branches and limbs.”

Bill Miller recalled that the branches that fell over his wife were 10 to 12 inches thick. According to WTAE, many in the crowd immediately started helping to move the branches off the Pennsylvania woman.

Mull also recounted in the GoFundMe post that Gendie fell unconscious after the accident and was rushed to the Monroeville-based Forbes Hospital. He wrote,

“Emergency services came, rushed her in an ambulance to Forbes Hospital Trauma Center in Monroeville to evaluate whether or not they could handle the situation or life-flight her to Presbyterian in Pittsburgh. Before they could get to Forbes, she stopped breathing and was pronounced dead on arrival.”

After Gendie’s unfortunate demise, the mayor of the City of McKeesport, Michael Cherepko, also sent his condolences to the Miller family. He described the incident as a “horrible accident.” Per WTAE, Gendie Miller was 49 and had been married to Bill for 17 years. They shared a 16-year-old daughter, Marlee.