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Bill Miller

William “Bill” Neil Miller, 80, of Baylis entered into eternal rest on Friday, November 6, 2015, in Quincy. He was born August 5th, 1935, in Fairmount Township, Illinois, to Foster Neil and Ressie Marie Martin Miller. He married Frances Louise Orr on June 12, 1955 in Pittsfield and she survives. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary earlier this year. . . (with Roy Orbinson and The BeeGees) Also surviving are 4 children, Lori (wife of Dan) Beard of Corinth, Texas; Charlotte (wife of Kirk) Cohagan of Lancaster, Missouri; Linda (wife of Mike) Littleton of Smithville, Missouri, and Chris (husband of Toni) Miller of Baylis. Surviving grandsons are Ryan Miller, Aaron Miller, and Will Cohagan; granddaughters are Ashley Miller, Olivia Littleton, and Kelsey Cohagan. Two sisters survive – Velma Corrigan of Baylis and Irene Bandy of Quincy, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter-in-law, Tammy Miller, and a sister, Darlene Johnson. Bill graduated from Perry High School in 1953. He served in the US Army and was stationed at Redstone Arsenal at Huntsville, Alabama. While there he played on the post baseball team. Bill farmed most of his life on the family farm, which was first owned by his grandfather, William A. Miller. He was the past President of the Woodland Cemetery Board, served on the ASC Board, and Fairmount Board of Trustees. Bill had a passion for all competitive sports and passed this love on to his children and grandchildren. He was an avid bowler and great sports fan.

When Bill played independent basketball in the old Perry gymnasium with buddies like Rich Emerson and others, I was often the scorekeeper. Ran the old time clock. Independent basketball was a big thing back then. I was just a high school kid. Before each game Bill would come up and remind me that at his age all baskets counted double. He was beyond the age when most guys were still playing basketball, but Bill still had that hustle. You had to start guarding him as soon as he came across the half line because he was a great outside shooter. Of course in the old Perry gym when you crossed the half-line you were already pretty close to the basket.

He had the same attitude when he joined the first bowling leagues at the old Perry Lanes. He was a natural athlete. When my team was scheduled to bowl Bill’s we’d might as well sit down and watch. Nobody could beat them. Even with the handicap the league would give us, we couldn’t come close. Bill had the real athletes on his team. . .I had Cecil and Firp Lackscheide.

He had a unique approach with the bowling ball. Most bowlers would stand there, ball in hand, and go through a certain ritual of concentration. Emerson would take forever . . . I’m not making fun. . .after all, he had the highest average in town. Bee Reed would have such a high back swing that everybody ducked for cover. Shad Whittaker would shout at the ball to give it vocal commands all the way down the alley. Ab Drake was so low to the ground you could never tell for sure when he’d let go of the ball. Bill would stand up, grab his ball, look at the lane and give it a roll, all in one smooth motion. He never stopped moving between getting up and letting go of the ball. Bill was . . . smooth. Psalm 1:1-6 ESV / 416 helpful votes Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Surely you’ve felt the same way I have watching the nightly news. . . young people rioting, breaking storefronts to grab TV’s, YouTube videos of kids going wild in the classroom, attacking police officers….and if you’re like me you can’t help but wonder. . . what’s the one thing that makes them different from me? From us? To me, from my experience growing up around Perry and Fishhook, the answer is plain. . . the absence of a good man, a role model, a father and a grandfather to not only tell kids what’s right, but to model it in his life. It’s easy for us to criticize but if we’re honest we’ve got to admit that if these people we see on TV had a Bill Miller in their lives then . . . well, we they wouldn’t be making the nightly news. As a relative of Bill’s told me this week… “He was a person in the community who would quietly do what needed to be done - serving on the cemetery board, pulling out a stuck vehicle, clearing a snowy road, mowing roadsides, supporting the schools (especially the sports teams!), helping a fellow farmer.” He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Bill played ball in grade school, in high school, with the Redstone Arsenal team while he was in the Army, independent ball in Pike County and spent many years umpiring, but the pinnacle of his sports career came in his back yard teaching a nephew how to pitch, organizing the Miller Thanksgiving football games, and playing whiffle ball in the back yard. And since it was his back yard, he wrote the rules…you hit the ball into the hog lot and you’re out. But more than any other sport, it was baseball that was in his blood. He and Fran had been married several years before she found out that their radios and TV set could broadcast anything more than ballgames. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. And Bill was the local expert at many things. . ----Popcorn and fudge in front of the TV ---Trips to Dairy Queen to satisfy Fran’s desire for a Butterfinger Blizzard ---Playing cards and board games at Christmas . . . his cards, he made the rules. ---Being extremely creative when coming up with adjectives to describe hogs or cattle that wouldn’t cooperate ---Knowing every song that came on the radio ---Teaching a little girl from Alabama how to tie her shoes ---Being a backup singer to both Johnny Cash and Reba McIntire ---Being the number one fan of Roy Orbison and the BeeGees ---Holding forth at the Fishhook store with a Coke in his hand. ---Supervising homemade ice cream production ---Being able to carry on a conversation, eat a meal or even sleep while listening to every word of the Cardinal broadcast in the background ---Being the owner of the most delightful giggle in Woodland township

. . . like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Family and friends have shared their memories this week. . People used to say they pitied the Miller kids - part Miller & part Orr and that equals very stubborn! (Speaking for one-half of that equation, I would say, “Amen!”) Dad loved to read. If anyone comes across a book he read, they'll know it because it will show "Bill" in the inside cover....along with stars indicating exactly what he thought of it! Teasing came naturally…and that wry smile and that shake of his head when you’d say something he thought was totally ridiculous.

The squeeze on the shoulder of a grandkid and his, “Let’s go for a ride.”

Coming home dirty and exhausted at the end of a day of work.

I remember his reaction when I sent this old Democrat a Ford/Dole bumper sticker. “I’d teased him for years about not coming to the Orr reunion then in 2014 he finally showed up. He was surprised that the Orr’s weren’t such bad people after all.” (Of course there were a few he didn’t get to meet that day.) A veteran who just missed Veteran’s Day this year.

Traveling all over the United States with his bowling team. . . trying to remember the names. . . Shad Whittaker, Bud Lipcaman, John Read, Ab Drake. .

Always on the sidelines at high school games. . . never yelling and complaining much, just enjoying.

He enjoyed teaching kids how to do things.

He taught us all how to be stubborn, but of course we’re all too stubborn to admit that.

We worry so much about the world and the direction it’s going, but the answer is so simple. . . more men and women of integrity, of honesty, of a strong work ethic, of a sense of humor . . . more dad’s and grandpa’s. . .like Bill Miller.

If you grew up around here. . . as most of you did. . .you knew many men like Bill . . . modest. . . funny. . . .childlike when they were around children. . . pitching in to help without being asked. . . extremely protective of their families. . .moral without being preachy. . . not always being able to say what they felt with words, but showing it with their actions. . . And when you grow up around men and women like that you become like that. . .and it’s as simple as that.

I was once asked to speak at a memorial service for a semi-famous man. . .at least famous in our area. He’d written several books, was a school administrator, even wrote a popular children’s book, and when he died he left a good deal of money to a local college. I gave the speech, but it was hard. He had four children, only two of whom were on speaking terms with their dad when he died. . . .one boy totally neglected and unable to attend the funeral because of his drug arrest. But this man had given a lot of money to the college so they wanted to honor him. And I couldn’t help but think. . . what really was he leaving the world? Just money. . . just money.

Then I look at here today and see what Bill Miller is leaving the world. People. . just people. People who have many of Bill’s great values. . . people who are now making a difference in the lives of others just like Bill did.

They name buildings after you if you leave a lot cash. They live their whole lives with a part of you if you leave them Bill’s love and devotion.

Someone asked Bill’s 11-year-old grandson if he wanted to contribute anything to the service today. Aaron Miller typed. . . He was the greatest grandpa ever -

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Please pray with me. . .

Graveside: One of the greatest advantages in living in a small community. . .the help and love and comfort that surrounds you at times like this. My student…St. Louis.. Take advantage of these coming days. . . real people who love you with a real love. . .want to help. Let them. In doing so, you’re helping them get through this, too. Most of us don’t have a clue what to do or what to say at times like this. . . help us out by letting us help.

And to the rest of us: Francis and her family will have plenty of company and attention for a few days, but it’s when you go to pick up your casserole dish that she might enjoy a few extra minutes with you.

Matthew, Jesus says “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” He doesn’t say, “Blessed are those who try to avoid being sad,” or “Blessed are those who hope it’ll all go away.” He says, “Blessed are those who mourn.” So do it. . . it’s okay. . . it’s what God wants.

Ecclesiastes 7:1 A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted.

In Micah, God gives us our instructions very simply and plainly. . “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?” . . . that, my friends, was Bill Miller. These graveside services are something we’ve sort of invented as a way to put a final cap on things. . . but they’re not. Bill’s greatest life began last Friday. He’s okay today. . . and that means we are as well.

Please pray with me. . .