John Miller, Jr.

John Lakin Miller, Jr. of Beeville, Texas passed away Saturday, July 30, 2016 at Citizens Hospital in Victoria at age 78. He was born January 22, 1938 in Mathis, Texas, to John Lakin, Sr and Clara Scott Miller. On July 19, 1963, he married Esther Sue Ossa of Woodsboro. John joined the Navy in 1957 and spent the next 3 years as a helicopter mechanic aboard ship. After his tour in the Navy, he settled in Beeville taking a job at the Beeville Publishing Company as a printer, which he held for 51 years. He served the community through the Beeville Volunteer Fire Department for 55 years in which he held various positions. He instructed and taught fire fighters at the South Texas Coastal Bend Fire Training Academy in Refugio, Beeville Fire School, and was an instructor at the biggest and greatest fire school in the world - Texas Fire School at Texas A & M in College station for 25 years. He received Fireman of The Year in 1992 from the Guadalupe District. He received the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association's 1993 Texas Firefighter of the year runner up. He was a charter member of the Beeville Volunteer Ambulance Service and was an EMT in the service until it disbanded. He was a member of the Bee County Chamber of Commerce Parade Committee for 45 years and he was best known as "the guy on the corner at the start of the parade". As a member of First Christian Church he held positions as deacon and elder. He was preceded in death by his father, John Lakin Miller, Sr. and his mother, Clara McWhorter. He is survived by wife, of 53 years, Sue Miller. Sisters, Jane Graham of Beeville and Judy (Bob) Prichard of Rancho Cardova, California. Brother, Irvin (Audrey) McWhorter, Jr of Grand Lake, Colorado. Sons, Scott Miller of Gonzales, Texas, Mark Miller and David Miller, both of Beeville. Daughter, Emily (Aaron) Williams of Tatum, Texas. Grandchildren, Michaela and Melleena Miller and Aaron, Jr. and Nathaniel Williams. John L. Miller touched many lives through his service to his community. He will be greatly missed. Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 3, from 5 to 7 pm at Galloway and Sons Funeral Chapel. The funeral service will also be held at Galloway and Sons, Thursday, August 4, at 10 am with Chaplain Bill Stockton and Rev. Aaron Williams, of Tatum, officiating. Burial will follow at Beeville Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Clinton Bagwell, Aldofo Cantu, Porfirio Cantu, Jr., Dale Downs, Douglas Holland, Goliad Chief Alonzo Morales. Honorary pallbearers will be Vic Einsphar, Jack Elder, Buddy Hardy, Joe Lyvers, Refugio Chief Don Pullin, Wayne Young, and the Ladies and Gentlemen of the Beeville Fire Department. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Beeville Fire Department, PO Box 67, Beeville, TX, 78104.

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