James Miller

Born December 11, 1932 in Pecos, Texas to Robert and Gladys Miller, James Edward "Jim Ed" Miller passed away at his home in Pecos, Texas on January 19, 2015. He is survived by his two sisters, Nancy Miller Hill of Stanford, Kentucky and Carol Jean Miller Kelley (Bill) of Dallas, Texas, nieces, Harriett Kelley Brown (Kevin) of Chicago IL, Nancy Kelley of Addison TX, Virginia Carol Hill of Stanford, KY along with grand nephews, cousins, and more friends than can be named.

Jim Ed was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Gladys Miller, his brother in law Thomas Jefferson Hill III, and his nephew Thomas Jefferson Hill IV.

Visitation will be on Thursday, January 22, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Pecos Funeral Home. Funeral services will be on Friday, January 23, 2015 at 1:00 PM at the Pecos Funeral Home Chapel, burial will follow at the Barstow Cemetery. Reverend Clark Ford will be officiating. Arrangements are under the care of Pecos Funeral Home.

Jim Ed's grandfather, Ed Miller and his twin brother, Jim Miller, came to West Texas in the 1890's and settled in Barstow. They had a mercantile store on the old highway 80 at Barstow and were known as the "Twin Brothers of the West." Jim Ed grew up in Barstow, attended public schools in Barstow and graduated from Pecos High School.

Upon graduation from Pecos High School, he attend Arlington State College and then transferred to the University of Texas in Austin where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. During this time he made many lifelong friends. Jim Ed served two years in the Army at Fort Bliss in El Paso, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin.

After graduating, he returned to Pecos where he was involved in a number of different businesses. He was the owner of an oil distribution company, a very successful cotton broker, a very well liked officer and director of the First National Bank of Pecos, General Manger of Red Bluff Water District, and then a rancher and oil and gas operator during his later years

He was a member of the First Christian Church of Pecos. He was a member of the Rotary Club and a long term sustaining member of the Pecos Valley Country Club. Jim Ed was a supporter of the West of the Pecos Museum. He also was a Masson. Jim Ed was an enthusiastic host. He hosted numerous personal and civic parties at his home and allowed others to host personal and civic parties at his home.

Out of all his accomplishments, the one he was the most proud of was the annual fundraisers he had for the Russell family. All members of this family were accomplished artist; however, they were all disabled and a significant portion of their annual income was raised from the Annual Art Auctions which Jim Ed sponsored and underwrote. Over the years, Jim Ed raised hundreds of thousand of dollars which supported this family for years. In addition, he provided scholarships to deserving young high school students who otherwise would not have been able to attend college. In his later years, he became a great admirer and supporter of The Smile Train and Wonder Works. Smile Train provides facial surgery to thousands of children born with facial deformities, and Wonder Works provides surgery to thousands of children to restore their sight.

Jim Ed never met a stranger and he truly loved people. The family would like to thank American Home health and all the care givers who loved and cared for Jim Ed.

Memorials may be given to La Gran Familiar Inc. 2813 Southland Boulevard, San Angelo TX 76904, Care of Glenn Polhemus; First Christian Church of Pecos, 423 S. Elm, Pecos TX 79772; West of the Pecos Museum 120 E. 1st Street, Pecos TX 79772; and Wonder Work 420 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10018, 212-729-1855.

To leave the family a message or to sign the guestbook please log online to pecosfuneralhome.com

Visitation

Visitation, Pecos Funeral Home
607 W. 3rd
Pecos, TX  79772
Thursday, January 22, 2015
6 - 8 PM

Service

Funeral Service

Pecos Funeral Home
607 W. 3rd
Pecos, TX  79772
Friday, January 23, 2015
1:00 PM

Cemetery

Barstow Cemetery
Barstow, TX  79719