John Bryer Miller

Birth: Dec. 22, 1899 Cowden Washita County Oklahoma, USA Death: Jun. 29, 1975 Cordell Washita County Oklahoma, USA

Children: Ethel E Miller Davis Juanita Faye Miller Willa Mae Miller Kinder Ruby Gayle Miller Collins Burrows Family links:

Parents:

 Gipson Perry Miller (1872 - 1955)

 Ida Mae House Miller (1870 - 1936)

Spouse:

 Clota Dean Reed Miller (1902 - 1978)*

Children:

 Juanita Fay Miller (1927 - 1927)*

John Bryer Miller was my grandfather. He was born in a half-dugout on the banks of the Washita River in Washita County OK. He lived during a most amazing time in history. He told of hiding under his bed after seeing the Plains Indians on their horses on the hill on their family farm, afraid they would scalp his little blonde head. And then of the first time he rode in an automobile or saw his first airplane. In 1969 he watched on a television while Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, not to mention watching live the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Pres of the USA, 1962. He was too young for WWI, too old for WWII and the Korean Conflict but served at home with Federal projects like the WPA and CCC and kept the farm producing. He was a gentle giant. Generous and honorable. He never spoke badly about anyone and insisted we could find good in everyone. He loved God and served Him faithfully. He wasn't an ordained minister but that didn't stop him from sharing his faith like he was one. He was a layman in the Pentecostal Holiness Church serving as deacon, Sunday School Teacher, Worship Leader and other support ministries in the church. He also lead worship at West Oklahoma PH Campmeetings held every summer at Anadarko, OK. He loved to sing and had a wonderful Bass/Baritone range. He and Grandma saw to it that their 3 surviving daughters all learned to play piano and upon the sale of a good cotton crop, bought Ethel a guitar, Ruby Gayle an accordian and I'm sure Aunt Willa Mae also had another instrument. He encouraged the granddaughters to play the piano and it never seemed to annoy him while we were learning and making noisy mistakes (sometimes on purpose). Singing around the piano was as common as eating at the kitchen table together. He knelt to pray 3 times a day. I could always lean on the knowledge that he called my name out to God at breakfast, lunch and supper (although when we stayed summers with them, we prayed that he would not mention his brothers, sisters and all their kids names, the food would get cold). He was adored by his daughters, sons-in-law and grandchidren, Deloris, Leon, Ronald Dale, Laquita, Myself, Rickey and Earl (by birth order) and his many nieces & nephews and their parents. My memories of him are thinking he "hung the moon". I led him around on his left index finger while I was learning to walk. That finger had been severed by a cotton stripper years earlier. A doctor reattached it but it was stiff and straight after that. He often got it caught or slammed into doors and found that it was only good for his "Indian sign-language" and teaching babies to walk. He taught me how to drive, took us fishing, to the park to play, told us of his amazing childhood stories, spoke to us in "Indian" , picked us up to ride on his bus route. When he retired from farming, he worked for the Cordell OK public schools. They had moved to Cordell, OK after he and his brothers, Jake and Burt built them a new home at 701 E Ollie in Cordell. He was a student of the Bible. You could find him in the corner of the livingroom in his chair reading the Bible or some commentary preparing for the next lesson almost anytime of the day or night. Grandpa had to have a pacemaker for his heart in 1974. We were so worried about him but he did very well. In May of 1975, he was diagnosed with colon cancer and had a colonostomy in Oklahoma City Presbyterian Hospital. When I graduated from HS in May 1975, I went to stay with Grandma to help her with his recovery and her's as she had had a heart attack herself. I stayed until Friday, June 27, 1975. I went home for my bridal shower in Altus OK. We all returned to Cordell....aunts, uncles, cousins...on Sunday June 29 to check on them. None of us knew the others were coming. Grandpa was up and doing well but told us about having a scare in the middle of the night when he got up. He said he saw a figure dressed in white and had a fright....until he realized it was his reflection in the full length mirror on the closet door....we all laughed. Grandpa had not been able to attend church for over a month. He never missed church until his illness. The pastor came by after morning worship that Sunday to check on them. Before he left, Grandpa gave his tithe to the pastor. We had a wonderful visit....we all left to get to our church services in the towns we lived in. Before the evening service was over, we were contacted that Grandpa had died suddenly when a bloodclot hit his heart while getting ready to retire for the night. Our hearts were broken.....Maybe it wasn't his reflection in the mirror afterall. I married Glen Goforth the next Friday, July 4, without my hero there....my brave and awesome Grandma was there though with a sweet, reflective smile....she and my mother had made my bridal gown while Grandpa and I had watched.... putting the finishing touch on it the day I went home for my bridal shower....Grandpa had tried on the veil that day......I'll always cherish that memory. written by Rhonda Elizabeth Collins Goforth

Burial: Sappington Chapel Cemetery Cowden Washita County Oklahoma, USA