Joseph James Miller

Joseph James Miller, 98-year-old lifetime resident of Harrison, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 28, (2010) at Hillcrest Home, Harrison. He was born Nov. 22, 1912, on the banks of Crooked Creek, near the present-day Minnie Harris Park area, son of Nathan Meredith and Dora Turner Miller. He graduated from Harrison High School in 1930, the second in his class. He was a three-year starter in basketball, ran track and was a member of the first Goblin football team, editor of the school paper and a member of the boy's quartet. He was an honor graduate of the University of Arkansas in 1934, with a degree in banking. He also participated in the ROTC program because they granted a commission upon graduation and paid 37 cents per day. This almost covered his monthly room and board. He married Francis Rowland in 1936, while living in Forrest City and working for the Extension Service. They were married for 73 1/2 years until her death in May (2010). He was called into active duty with the Army in 1941, where he entered as a First Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps. He spent 28 consecutive months in the Aleutian Islands. He left the service as a Major in 1945, returning to Harrison to join his father in the hardware business. Joe was active in Harrison and Boone County activities. Some of his major interests were his church, the First Christian, where he was a lifetime member and served as youth leader, a Sunday school teacher, deacon, elder, trustee, board chairman and building committee chairman. He was a 65-year member of the Harrison Rotary Club, serving as president and a multiple Paul Harris fellow. He was an active chairman of the Boone County Republican Party for many years, served a term on the Harrison City Council, a founding member of the North Arkansas College Board appointed by Governor Dale Bumpers, a board member and chairman of the Boone County Hospital, Harrison Chamber of Commerce, Arkansas Hardware Association, serving as president and director. He served on banking boards as director for 35 years and the R.S.V.P. board for many years. He was an original investor in Dogpatch, USA. He was a proud member of the Old Time Goblins and a loyal Goblin fan, traveling with Francis to all the basketball and football games when son Meredith played, as well as the games of their Goblin grandchildren. He and Francis were inducted into the first Goblin Hall of Fame class. Joe received a community leadership award from the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce in 1975. He was selected as the Harrison Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year in 1993 and the Harrison School Foundation honored him as their Distinguished Alumni in 2005. Northark honored him in 1994 with the Board of Trustees Award and again in 1998 with the Pioneer Citizen of the Year Award. Joe was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Francis; son, Jim; and his brother, Ray Miller. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Meredith and Ginger Miller and his daughter and son-in-law, Marcille and Jay Lawrence. The seven grandchildren are Jeff, Joe and wife Christi and John Martin, Nate and wife Jill, Matt and wife Beth and Jake and wife Kali Miller and Ashley and husband Josh Hoppis. He was Grandpa Joe to 14 great-grandchildren, all of Harrison. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, Dec. 31, at the First Christian Church, with Dr. David Artman officiating with visitation to follow in the church fellowship hall. Honorary pallbearers include Miller Hardware employees, Harrison Rotary Club, Old Time Goblins, Hillcrest Home staff, Art Barrett, John Paul Hammerschmidt and Dr. Sam Scroggins. The family requests that memorials be made to the First Christian Church, Harrison or to Ozark Share and Care in lieu of flowers. In loving memory of Joe, Miller Hardware will be closed Friday, Dec. 31. Arrangements are by Holt Memorial Chapel.