JOHN JACOB MILLER

A memorial service will be held for John Jacob Miller, 96, at 1:00 P.M. Saturday, June 5, 2021 at the Gorman Funeral Homes-Converse Chapel with Pastor Tim Ricker of Frontier Baptist Church officiating.  Inurnment will be in the Douglas Park Cemetery with military honors accorded by Samuel Mares American Legion Post #8, Ora Call American Legion Post #10, Laramie Peak VFW Post #3558, and United States Navy Funeral Honors.

A reception for family and friends will follow at 632 Van Buren Street, Douglas, Wyoming.

John passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 13, 2020 in Douglas, Wyoming at the Douglas Care Center.

He was born to Ray Wilson and Ida Pearl (Springer) Miller on Tuesday, June 10, 1924 in Hettinger, North Dakota. He grew up in a large family with 11 siblings. After high school he joined the United States Navy as a young teen-ager and served on a Destroyer in the Pacific from 1942 to 1945 during World War II. He returned home and met his wife, Kathleen Ellen Ferguson. They were married July 22, 1950 in Miles City, Montana. Shortly after they were married, they moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where they made their home and raised their family. They had seven children, four daughters, one of whom passed away at birth and three sons.

John was an electrician by trade and worked all over Wyoming and several other states.  He was well respected and had two of his sons follow in that trade.  One of John’s favorite hobbies was collecting rocks, bottles, barbed wire, and many other antiques.  He put all of this together in what he called (Miller’s Cave) in the basement of his home. He was a craftsman and made many beautiful pieces of jewelry, crafts, and furniture. Later in life, he and Ellen enjoyed traveling all over the United States to attend his shipmate reunions. He also compiled an extensive history of these reunions.

John and Ellen enjoyed many activities with their children including camping, fishing, and exploring the backcountry of Wyoming and surrounding states. As the children married and raised families of their own, John and Ellen enjoyed traveling and spending time with their grandchildren.

John is survived by his youngest sister Marlene Sass of Hettinger, North Dakota and his six children. Deborah (Ken) Tuma of Idaho, Sandra (Bob) Fuller of Arizona, John (Terri) Miller of Utah, Jim Miller of Arizona, Tom (Renee’) Miller of Wyoming, and Jane Miller of Wyoming. John and Ellen were blessed with 13 grandchildren and many great grandchildren with more to come.

John was preceded in death by his wife, Ellen, on July 21,2009; infant daughter, Paula Jean; and his parents, Ray on February 27, 1967 and Ida on June 16, 1972; and all but one sibling.

A memorial in his honor will be announced at a later date.

The Gorman Funeral Homes – Converse Chapel of Douglas, Wyoming is in charge of the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.gormanfh.com

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