Leon C. Miller

Leon was born in Joseph City, Arizona on October 29, 1925. He passed away on February 1, 2014 at Carriage House in Snowflake, Arizona at the age of 88. His parents are John Henry Miller and Clara Almina Hansen. He was the 6th born out of 10 children. His siblings include: Maxine (Ray) Dean of Salt Lake City, Utah; Vance Miller of Holbrook and Joseph City; Genevieve (Melvin) McLaws of San Diego, California; Myrna Melvin of Seoul, South Korea; Jay (Illa Claire Hunt) Miller of Joseph City; Carol Faye DeWitt of Holbrook and Joseph City; Jack (Carole Brewer) Miller of Joseph City; Joyce (Joe) Colvin in Imbler, Oregon; and infant child, Anita of Joseph City. He graduated from Holbrook High School in 1943. After high school he was drafted into military duty, along with 3 other siblings serving at the same time. He performed his service for the Army Air Forces at Stockton, California as an airplane mechanic. Shortly after his military discharge, he married his childhood sweetheart, Pauline Bushman of Joseph City in the Mesa Arizona Temple on January 3, 1946. He was positive that he had the best bride in the whole world. They made their home in Joseph City, remaining there to raise their 6 children in the home that he literally built from scratch. He began his working career milking cows for the local dairy, pumping and delivering gas, working for the State Highway Dept., and eventually settling on driving a semi delivery truck from California to Texas for Whiting Brothers. Leon served faithfully throughout his life in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Some of his favorite callings were: President of the MIA, Sunday School President, Stake Missionary, serving in leadership on the reservation, and most recently instructing the High Priests Group. He dedicated many hours in the building of the new Joseph City Ward Building. Pauline often had to share Leon with the community, as he was a master at trouble-shooting and fixing anything mechanical or electrical. He also served for a number of years on the Joseph City School Board. It was a frequent sight to see him hoeing weeds all over town as well as maintaining the church and cemetery grounds. With Pauline's untimely passing in 1976, Leon married Wanda Smith of Claremont, California in 1984. She was a great source of companionship to Leon and fit right into the family. One of Leon's biggest passions was listening to his wife, children, and grandchildren perform on the piano. He had a great love for music. Some of his other pleasures were homemade ice cream, playing Rook, and building electronic kits. Some of the words that best describe Leon are: resilient, self-reliant, hardworking, frugal, punctual, extremely intelligent, organized, dependable, and honest to a fault. Clutter was never tolerated at his place. He always dressed sharp for even small occasions. He was not afraid to speak his mind and you knew where you stood with Leon. What a wonderful teacher, example, and father he has been to his posterity. Above all, his greatest treasures in life were his wife, Pauline; and children: Linda (Bill) Hartman of Smithfield, Utah, Colleen (Ken) Jones of Snowflake, Phyllis (Richard) Minyard of Apache Junction, Nancy (Glen) Palmer of Pleasant Grove, Utah, Kevin (LuAnne Foree) Miller of Delta, Utah,, and Marty (Lynn) Dayton of Snowflake: along with 22 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren. His funeral services will be on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 10:00 am at the Joseph City LDS Building with a visitation to be held at 9:00 am that same morning. Burial will follow at the Joseph City Cemetery. Arrangements were handled thru Owens Livingston Mortuary-Heritage Chapel of Snowflake, Arizona.