Cliford “Cliff” James Miller

Cliford “Cliff” James Miller, 57, of Carmine, died on Monday, May 18, 2015, at Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple. Cliff was born in Houston on Dec. 7, 1957, the son of Carl Junior and Dora (Collie) Miller. Cliff had two places he called home. While living and growing up in Houston, he along with much of the other family/ ousins enjoyed going out to the family farm in Carmine. It was better known as “The Country”. There they would spend nights out by the pond in the ol’ camphouse. During his youth, Cliford’s hobbies included every kind of motor activity, ranging from aviation to motorcycles, boating and all things nautical. He acquired his pilot’s license at the age of 39. As an avid HAM radio operator he would give local weather updates and assist communications with area events, This was before the “cell phone age”. Space peaked his interest. He was always looking to the stars, studying constellations and attending amateur astronomy events. A man of many trades,
Cliff started working as a jackhammer operator at the age of 15. He began his career as a machinist operating lathes for Chapel Instruments in Houston for 12 years. For a short time he worked as a security guard at the Port of Houston, where he was able to have lunch with his father. He moved to Carmine in 1984 at the age of 27. He commuted to Houston for 15 years while working in the IT department for Prime Bank. He concluded his career as an owner/ operator transportation specialist for Jones Motor Co., traveling numerous times across the United States, into Canada, and through all of the NASA security checkpoints at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Cliff is survived by his wife of 24 years, Leatha Miller of Carmine; mother: Dora Miller of Carmine; sons: Bryan Miller and wife Lindsay of Denver, Colorado, and Joseph Vogel of Carmine; daughters: Ashley Weiss and husband Brian of Carmine, Dawn Miller of Carmine; grandchildren: Margaret “Maggie” Miller, Cohen Miller, Carly Weiss, Carah Weiss, and Bryant Miller; brother: Donald Ward and wife Yvonne of Houston; nephew, Daniel Ward of Houston; niece, Angela Alderman of Houston; four great nephews. He is preceded in death by his father: Carl Miller; grandparents: Conard and Nora Miller, Robert and Mattie Collie; first wife, Mary Hubbard Mitchell; Robert “Robby” Vogel. Visitation was held Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services were held at Martin Luther Lutheran Church Thursday, May 21, 2015 at 2 p.m. in Carmine. Interment will follow at Carmine Cemetery. To post a tribute to the family, visit www.memorialoakschapel. com. Memorial Oaks Chapel in Brenham was in charge of arrangements.