Baker City, Oregon
Willis Gordon “Bill” Miller, 80, of Portland, and a former Baker City resident, died Nov. 28, 2004, at Friendship Nursing Home in Portland.
His memorial service was Dec. 4 at the St Johns Christian Church in Portland. Arrangements were by the Killingsworth Little Chapel of the Chimes.
His ashes will be placed at Tehoma National Cemetery near his son’s home because Willamette National Cemetery’s Columbarium has no available space.
Bill was born June 17, 1924, at Baker City to William F. and Josephine D. Miller. After graduating from Baker High School in 1942, he joined the U.S. Army Air Force. He served in Italy and Brazil, earning numerous medals.
While in school, he began playing trumpet, which became a lifelong hobby and vocation.
He met Joy Lethlean and married her in 1949. They moved to La Grande, where they became parents of two children, Randall and Kay.
Several years later they moved to Portland. Bill happily helped with the children’s activities. This ranged from serving as Cub Master of Pack 52 and working with Boy Scout Troop 52, Little League, hunter safety, Junior Rifle Club and James John PTA. He also assisted with many of Kay’s Campfire Girls activities.
Upon retirement from Fred Meyer Variety Warehouse in 1986, Bill traded his trumpet for a trombone and got down to some serious music entertainment. He and Joy created the Melody Express Band.
They played music in numerous nursing homes, retirement homes, the Oregon State Fair, and the Rose Festival. He loved playing music and felt great satisfaction in providing happy, foot-tapping music that made people smile.
After his children finished high school he got serious about his fishing. He caught a 35-pound king salmon in Waldport. (The minister said the fish kept growing in size over the years.)
After retirement he had much more time for his hobbies, which included making wooden toys for grandchildren and for various charities. He particularly loved making beautiful wooden rocking horses.
Over the past 12 years Bill and his little brown dog enjoyed walking through St. Johns, talking with everyone they met.
Survivors include his wife, Joy, and daughter, Kay, both of Portland; his son, Randall, of Kent, Wash.; his sister, Beverly Giles of Auburn, Wash.; grandchildren, Amanda and Kyle Miller of Kent; and a brother-in-law, Dale Lethlean of Baker City.
Memorial contributions may be made to Guide Dogs for the Blind, a local Humane Society or a charity of one’s choice.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, December 10, 2004
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
