James Gregg Miller, Sr. son of Gregg Scott Miller and Carolyn Freeman Miller was born on July 18, 1923 in Bernie, MO and departed this life on Friday, August 17, 2018 at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, MO at the age of 95.

Mr. Miller graduated from Bloomfield High School in 1941 and joined the Civilian Conservation Corp, (CCC).  While serving there, his father convinced him to come to Detroit to work at Continental Motors where he could make lots of money.  While in Detroit he was drafted into the United States Army in March of 1943 serving in the Pacific/New Guinea earning the rank of Staff Sergeant.  He received the Combat Infantry Badge, Victory Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon with two battle stars.  Philippine Liberation Ribbon with one battle star, four Overseas Service Bars, the Good Conduct Medal and a Purple Heart.  He received his honorary discharge in December of 1945.

After leaving the Army, he returned to Detroit, but the end of the war reduced the factory work making jobs hard to find so he returned to Dexter, MO.  There he worked with his Uncle Charlie Miller clearing land by skidding out logs with a team of horses.  These logs were then used to build cabins for the Greenhead Duck Hunting Club, property of the Miller family, now known as Otter Slough Conservation Area.  This property also had part-owners from St. Louis and Jim would serve as duck hunting guide for those men, rowing their boat out and setting live duck decoys, so those city men could do their duck hunting.

It was during this time that Jim met local veterinarian, Dr. E.G. Bailey Jr. who helped him gain employment with the E.P. Coleman Cattle Company where he fed, branded, vaccinated and rode horses daily. 

His true calling was training cutting horses, and he did this until an accident resulted in him going to work for Monarch Feed Mills in Dexter as a livestock consultant.  He retired from Monarch but continued in his cutting horse training profession.

In 1950 he met and married Mildred Fulkerson, who has been his devoted partner for 68 years. She survives of the home in Dexter.   From this marriage three children were born, Deborah Scott Miller (Mark Stidham), James Gregg Miller Jr. (Melanie) of Dexter, MO and Mary Beth Miller (Rod Williams) of Neosho, MO, 

He is Grandfather to James Robert Scherer, (Heather) Largo, FL, Brent Stidham (Lauren), Brandon Miller (Megan), Lauren Miller, of Dexter, MO, Elliot Duckworth of Kansas City, MO and Zanna Duckworth of Joplin, MO

He is Great Grandfather to Lily Scherer and Holly Scherer, of Largo, FL, Kynlee Miller, Brock Miller and Landry Miller, of Dexter, MO and Brody Duckworth, of Kansas City, MO

Mr. Miller is also survived by one brother, Richard (Dick) Miller of Livonia, MI and many nieces and nephews, along with a host of friends and fellow cowboys.  

In addition to his parents, Mr. Miller was preceded in death by brothers, William I Miller and Robert S. Miller and grandson, Jason Stidham.

A celebration of life for Mr. Miller will be held at the Rainey Mathis Funeral Home, Dexter on August 24, 2018, beginning with visitation at 11:00 a.m. followed by a funeral at 1:00 p.m.  Interment will be at the Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, MO with full military rites.

The family would like to thank and recognize the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau for their professional and attentive care to Mr. Miller.  They would also like to thank and applaud Crown Hospice for their compassionate and professional, Christian based care of Mr. Miller.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church, (DOC) in Dexter, MO, where Mr. Miller was a long-time member, serving as Elder and board member.