Atlanta, Missouri resident since 2016, James “Jim” Miller, formerly of Fayette, was called home to heaven around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday morning, July 22, 2021. He was 74 years old.

Jim’s life began in Woodsville, New Hampshire on July 26, 1946, the son of Donald and Elizabeth Miller. They lived in Bradford, Vermont where he attended school at Bradford Academy and graduated in 1964. 

 After graduating from East Coast Aero Tech in 1966, and his brief stint in the military from August 1968 through July 1970, where he was a CH-47 “Huey” flight crew member in Vietnam, he married Marianne Metcalf of Piermont, New Hampshire on August 26, 1972. He was a civil service helicopter mechanic at Fort Devens in Massachusetts for 23 years.

He is survived by his wife, Marianne of Atlanta, Missouri, four daughters, Kim and Don Burgett of Moberly, Missouri, Catherine and Mick Martin of Mankato, Minnesota, Amy and Erwin Santoso of Auckland New Zealand, and Mary and Andrew Richey of East Berlin, Pennsylvania; along with 25 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother George and wife Sandy of San Diego, his sister, Jean, and brother Douglas and wife, Barbara, all of Bradford, Vermont.

He was caring and kind-hearted, a hard worker, builder and carpenter, and an avid gun enthusiast. He served children as a missionary to Belize, helped strangers through disaster relief, taught adult Sunday School for years, and served as a Deacon at his church.

He is predeceased by his father, mother, and brother, Donald. Yes, he is gone, but he will never be forgotten.

A memorial service will be held in his honor on Friday, July 30, at 2 p.m. with visitation at 1:30 p.m. at Atlanta Baptist Church 319 N Atterberry St., Atlanta, Missouri.  Military honors will follow the service on the church grounds.

Jim can say as did Franklin Graham at his dad's funeral, “Don’t grieve for me, I’m not dead. I’m more alive than I’ve ever been. I’ve just changed addresses!!”

Donations can be made to Alaskan missionaries, Chris and Sam Hall through Atlanta Baptist Church or to “Such a Time as This,” a woman’s ministry that offers assistance to women by providing job and life skills (also through Atlanta Baptist Church).

Condolences may be shared at www.carryager.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Carr-Yager Funeral Home, Fayette, MO.