January 15 1940 July 23 2019
Lifetime resident, James V. Miller, who was known as a dedicated family man, extraordinary schoolteacher, coach, practical joker and all-around great guy, passed from this life at 12:30 pm on Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at the age of 79, surrounded by his loving family. Jim was born on January 15, 1940, in Indianapolis, Indiana, and was the son of the late James LaVern Miller and Ellen Ann (Patterson) Miller Smart. He lived his entire life in Martinsville and loved every minute of being an Artesian. Jim graduated from Martinsville High School with the class of 1958 and in June of that year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served his country with bravery from June 1958 – August 1962 in the 82nd Airborne Infantry Division and was honorably discharged after four years and eight days as a PFC E-3. While on furlough in 1959, Jim met the love of his life, Kay Ellen (Francis). The two went three years before he was discharged, reconnecting in 1962. Their courtship lasted one year, and they were married in Mooresville, Indiana, on August 11, 1963. Immediately after Jim was discharged from the military, he gained employment at Western Electric in Indianapolis where he worked before returning to school. He earned his bachelors and a master’s degree in education from Indiana University and began his forty-year teaching career in 1966 with the MSD of Martinsville. His love for history, coupled with his love for children, made him out to be one of the most memorable and fun-loving US History teachers of all times. During his years at the Martinsville Junior High and West Middle School, Jim not only enriched his students with his knowledge and passion for history, he also coached football, basketball and wrestling…. and provided daily entertainment for staff and students. In Jim’s younger years, he enjoyed fishing, swimming, boating, water skiing and scuba diving. Living many years on the lake awarded Jim the opportunity to do ‘everything water’, which he loved, especially taking his grandchildren skiing and tubing. When he wasn’t on the water, he was usually buried in a good book, reading history magazines, working in his vegetable garden, ‘manicuring his yard’ or watching football and basketball, specifically IU Football, IU Basketball, the Indianapolis Colts or the Chicago Bears. Jim has left his ‘footprint’ on countless lives and will be missed deeply by his many friends, students and loving family. He is survived by his wife and soulmate of fifty-five years, Kay Ellen Miller of Martinsville; two daughters, Kelley (husband, Phil) Tortorice of Carmel, IN and Sherry (husband, Mike) Erne of Chicago; son, Bradley Miller of Martinsville; five grandchildren, Katie (husband, Ben) Kauffman of Holland, MI, Audrey Tortorice of Carmel, IN, and Sarah, Samantha and William Erne all of Chicago; one brother, Larry (wife, Suzanne) Wayman of Indianapolis, IN; two sisters, Debbie Terpstra of Florida and Mary (husband, Ed) Pahrump of Nevada and his beloved cat, Sadie. Family and friends are invited to visit on Saturday, July 27th from 4:00 -7:00 pm at Neal & Summers Funeral and Cremation Center in Martinsville. Members of the military honor guard will conduct a service at the conclusion of the visitation, beginning at promptly 7:00 pm at the funeral home for family and friends. In honoring Jim’s wishes, there will be no funeral service and he will be laid to rest following a private committal service in New South Park Cemetery in Martinsville. The family has requested that contributions be made in Jim’s memory in lieu of flowers to either the Morgan County Humane Society, Red Barn, Desert Rose or the American Cancer Society. Envelopes will be provided at the funeral home. Memories and condolences may be shared with the Miller family online at www.nealandsummers.com
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of James V Jim Miller January 15 1940 July 23 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Martinsville, state: Indiana