John Miller

John Michael “Jack” Miller, almost 95, passed from this life into glory on October 13, 2015. He was born October 22, 1920 in Cleveland, Ohio to Roy Jay and Frances Petrocchi Miller. He was married to the former Sarah Frances Atkinson of Auburn, AL, for a wonderful 68 years. He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Sarah, his brother, Robert J. Miller, son Timothy Thomas Miller, and grandson, Blake Fenton Miller. He is survived by son Mike (Ruth) Miller, daughter Susan Miller Raetz (husband, Paul, recently deceased), daughter Melanie Miller (Dick) Knowles, daughter-in-law Carol Fenton Miller (Don) Lewis, 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and 2 on the way! Jack selflessly served his wife and rather large and ever-growing family in countless ways, and we all think of him as a very dear and kind patriarch. He also loved the Lord Jesus, and we find comfort in thinking of him at a sweet reunion in heaven with Sarah, Tim, Blake and the Lord! He was ready! Miller’s father developed the golf club, Spring Valley CC in Elyria, OH in the 1920’s, which is where Jack developed his love for the game of golf as a young child. The family moved to the Bradenton/Sarasota area in 1934, and Jack lived out his life there, except for a one year family stay in Annapolis, MD during high school, where Jack honed his skill as a sailor. He attended Sarasota High School, and then the University of FL (seeking a Business Admin major) in 1940-41. At the outbreak of WW2, Miller left the University and entered the U.S. Coast Guard, where he first served on his father’s motor yacht, which had been donated to the war effort as an anti-submarine patrol ship on Florida’s West coast. Observing Jack’s superior boating skills, he was chosen to attend the Coast Guard Academy for one year, graduating with the rank of Ensign. He was first attached to a Coast Guard Cutter Sub Chaser, which he eventually commanded, in the Caribbean, based in Cuba. Next he was sent to be the Navigator and 3rd in command of a brand new attack supply ship coming out of New Orleans. They sailed it from LA, through the Panama Canal, and to the South Pacific. During the remainder of the war, he was attached to the U.S. Navy on this ship, which he eventually commanded, in the vicinity of the Philippines, and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Jr. Grade. He left the Coast Guard/Navy at war’s end and took over active management of Miller Trailers with his brother, due to the early death of his father. Jack’s service to our country always remained an extremely memorable and important part of his life. Miller was Chairman and Chief Exec Officer of Miller Trailers, Inc., Bradenton. He had been associated with Miller Trailers since the founding of the company by his father and grandfather in 1939. Mr. Miller also had a significant impact on Manatee County in the business of banking. He was an organizer of InterCity National Bank, Trail National Bank, and Bayshore State Bank. When InterCity became First Florida Bank, he continued to serve as Chairman of the Board of their Manatee Co. offices. Also, he was a member of the board of Directors of the Tampa offices of First Florida Bank and a member of the Board for Crossland Savings in Bradenton. Mr. Miller dedicated much of his time serving the wider community in the following former capacities: President of the Manatee County Chamber of commerce; Board of Trustees of New College, Sarasota; Trustee of Manatee Community College; an organizing member of the Board of Governors of the University Club in Sarasota; active in the Boy Scouts of America as assoc. scoutmaster, Troop 1, 1st U. Meth. Church, Bradenton; Board of Dir. of United Appeal of Man. Co.; Board of Dir. of Bradenton Kiwanis Club; Chairman of the Board, Bay Indies Mobile Home Park, Venice; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Finance, and Administrative Boards of First United Methodist Church, Bradenton. In 1980, he received the Distinguished Citizen’s Award from Manasota Goodwill Industries. Mr. Miller also served on numerous state and national boards including the Board of Directors of Scotty’s, Winter Haven; Chairman of the Board of the Florida Trucking Assoc; twice the National President and also the Treasurer of Truck Trailer Manufacturers Assoc, Washington, D.C.; Member of The Florida Council of 100; Board of Directors of “Florida House,” Washington, D.C. Socially, Mr. Miller was a former member of the Bradenton Yacht Club, the Gator Creek Golf Club, Bradenton, and TPC Sawgrass CC, Jacksonville. He was presently a member and a past president of both the Bradenton Country Club and Highlands CC, Highlands, NC. He was also a former member of Kiwanis Club of Bradenton, and the Hernando DeSoto Conquistadores of Bradenton. Visitation Wed, Oct 21, 5-7pm at Griffith-Cline Funeral Home. Funeral service Thurs, Oct 22, 1:00pm at First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Children’s or Missions’ ministries of FUMChurch, 603 11th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34205, or to Highlands United Methodist Church Building Fund, 315 Main St., Highlands, NC 28741, or to Tidewell Hospice of Bradenton.