C. James Miller

Our father, Jim Miller, died the early hours of July 16, 2011 just the same way he had lived his life.with dignity and humor, surrounded by friends and family, and still checking things off his checklist. He was 91. Born January 29, 1920 in Pueblo, Colorado to Raymond H. Miller and Laura Graham Miller, Jim grew up on the beaches and tennis courts of Long Beach, California. It was there that he met Ruthe Curry, eventually marrying her in September of 1942 after graduating from his beloved Cal Berkeley. Jim and Ruthe moved to San Anselmo after their honeymoon, where he began studies for the Presbyterian Ministry at San Francisco Theological Seminary. Upon graduation he served as university pastor at U.C. Davis, where his son Michael Edward was born. Jim was then called to the Boone Memorial Presbyterian Church in Caldwell, Idaho, where he and Ruthe served shoulder to shoulder, and welcomed first James Curry and then Cynthia Lee to their little family. The Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos asked Jim and Ruthe to lead them in 1954. They stayed until 1960, welcoming Mark Snowden in 1957. Jim and Ruthe were asked to return to the seminary in 1960, where he was Director of Development until 1973. Missing the pastorate, they responded to a call from Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church, serving happily there until 1979. They returned to Marin County in 1979 where Jim was the Senior Pastor at The First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael until his retirement in 1985. The Millers returned to their beloved Los Gatos in retirement, living there until making their final move, to Rogue Valley Manor, in Medford, Oregon in 2004. Jim was preceded in death by his wife Ruthe. He is survived by sons Mike (Cher), Curry (Bonnie), and Mark (Anne), and by a daughter Cyndi (Randy). Eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren have joined this proud California family through the years. He loved people, ideas, a good discussion, the San Francisco Giants, the 49ers, travelling to Europe and Hawaii, and cooking out on his deck. He literally leaves friends all over the world. Jim taught us to care about the other guy, to give, to forgive, and to love each other. He will not be forgotten. Jim's ashes will be buried in the Memorial Garden at the Presbyterian Church of Los Gatos in a private ceremony, September 3, 2011.
Hillcrest Memorial Park & Mortuary, Medford, OR. are in care of arrangements. www.hillcrestmortuary.com