Ronald Miller

January 6, 1938 - April 26, 2015

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Ronald Edgar Miller went home to be with his eternal Lord and Savior April 26, 2015, surrounded by his two loving daughters, Sharon and Beverly, and his devoted wife, Ann. Ron was born January 6, 1938 to Viola (Bauer) and Harris Edgar Miller in Jersey City, New Jersey.

His early years were spent in Ridgefield and Saddle Brook, New Jersey and on Cape Hatteras (Avon) North Carolina. In 1955 he joined the Army to serve his country and see the world. While stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, he visited the Southeast Gospel Chapel where he met a minister’s daughter and future wife, Anna May Elliott. They married in 1960 upon his return from his post in Germany. They were blessed with two daughters.

While working for City Utilities, he earned a BS degree in Education and later, a Master’s degree in Education from Drury University. He inspired many students during his years as a history teacher at Glendale High School and later as a faculty member in teacher education at Drury University .
In 1972 he received the Jaycee’s Outstanding Young Educator Award. Ron spent his life studying and sharing his knowledge with others.

In 1984 he received his doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Northern Colorado. He accepted a teaching position at Concord College in Athens, W. Va., and later at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Missouri. He received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1995. He was loved and respected by his many students.

One of Ron’s passions was performing magic. As a teenager and throughout life, he entertained children and adults with sleight of hand, stage tricks, and illusions. He captivated area audiences for many years at charitable functions and parties as Ron Miller, Master of Magic.

Ron also travelled the world and shared his adventures through his gifted photography and storytelling. He made numerous extended trips to France and was even enrolled in a prestigious language institute in Tours to ensure communication with his newly acquired French side of the family.

He was preceded in death by his mother, father, step-father, Charles Earle, and brother-in-law, David Elliott. He is survived by his wife Ann; two daughters, Sharon (Michael) Koechner, Beverly (Dominique) Leligois; treasured granddaughters, Tiffany and Coraline Leligois (who spent delightful vacation time with him); a brother, Jeff Miller; sisters Diane (Ray) Albanese; Deborah (Gary) Chiaverotti; step-mother, Fannie Miller, a school teacher who saw his potential and inspired him to read; his brother-in-law, Gordon (Glenda) Elliott, sister-in-law,Dorothy Elliott; and nieces and nephews, Karen Crews, Kathy Perez, Melissa (Chris) Lukert, Jason Miller, Joshua Miller, Todd Elliott, and Tara (Jeff) Ford.

Appreciation is expressed to Dr. James Coulter who provided asthma care from 1975 until his retirement and Oxford Hospice.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 28 at Greenlawn South. Celebration of life will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 29 at First and Calvary Presbyterian Church. Graveside services will follow at Hazelwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Oxford Hospice. Online condolences may be made at www.greenlawnfuneralhome.com.

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Loved Ron's shows in the 80's!! He was one of my inspirations to get into magic.. along with Ben Stone and Mark Sparks. ????????♦️♣️♥️????????????

My family members all the time say that I am wasting my time here at net, however I know I am getting familiarity daily by reading such fastidious content.

Stacee, My dad loved teaching at Glendale, and he truly cared about all the students in his classes. He put his heart and soul into teaching kids to think for themselves, and he made it fun. Thank you for sharing your experience in his classroom. It’s really cool that you were in my Dad’s class with your future husband and that you both passed history together! We will miss him so much–he was my inspiration and sounding board and he really enjoyed helping my sister Bev with her students. Sharon Miller Koechner.

Thank you for your lovely comment, Stacee. I remember you. Ron thought you were a very special person. He appreciated your honesty and learned from you. I learned from Ron. We will all miss him. May I include your comments among the e-mails he received? My e-mail is remiller1@sbcglobal.net I could also send you via e-mail his life story which I read at his celebration of life and also the readings from Sharon and Beverly. May God bless you and your family. Ann Miller

It is a blessing to the family to receive your comments. Ron benefitted greatly from the opportunity to teach at Glendale High School. It gave him the chance to teach meaningfully and also respond to the deep emotional issues that were affecting his students. He pursued his doctorate at the University of Northern Colorado where he found professors like himself. Then he prepared teachers to be responsive to the learning and emotional needs of their students. The family will miss him greatly but forever be transformed by his legacy. His last study was of the life of Paul. He found Paul to be a misunderstood apostle because people today have not studied the history of the world of Paul and the background for what he said. Ron has left me a library about Paul and I will read it. Ann Miller

Peace of mind is a call away. We’re here when you need us most.

I remember you, Constance. You were a great friend to Beverly. She has returned to France, but I copied your e-mail and will send it to her. She teaches at a business school. Her students come from around the world. She will be happy you remembered her father. Ann Miller

Sandy, Thanks for leaving a note. You were special to Ron, and he mentioned you often. The flowers sent from Missouri Valley were lovely and appreciated. The college was a place he loved to teach and enjoy the faculty, students, and staff. Ann Miller

I am very sorry to here That Mr. Miller had passed away. He was one of my favorite teachers at Glendale High School in the early 1970’s! It is hard to work with teenagers, especially with all of the unrest and protests at that time. Yet, Mr. Miller was a true gentleman to all of his students and a talented educator. Grant unto him eternal rest oh Lord! God’s peace and love to his family.

Ann, So sorry to hear the passing of Ron. I always enjoyed working with him at Valley. His smile would always make me smile even on my worst days in the Bookstore. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

I saw Mr. Miller’s obituary in the paper and that started a day of some of my fondest memories. Mr. Miller was my American History teacher at Glendale High School. I failed this class my junior year…with a different teacher… so I had to retake the class my senior year. I was thrilled when I got Mr. Miller. I knew him from my study hall class. That was where I saw some of his wonderful magic for the first time. The first day of his history class he told us that the only way we could fail his class was to do nothing. My future husband sat next to me in this class…he had failed history the previous year as well. Mr. Miller would kid us about dating and said we would probably end up married to each other. We did and we had two children. In 1977 we took our daughter to a friend’s birthday party. The entertainment was Mr. Miller and his magic. My husband and I talked with him for a while and he told me that he still had some of the papers I had written for him in high school. He always made you feel like you were the most important person in the class. I am sad that he is gone but I have so enjoyed the memories. His mischievous smile and his great laugh. Thank you Mr. Miller

Bev, I am so sorry to read about your father’s passing. I remember him always having a smile, great energy, and a fantastic laugh. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Constance (Rogers) Leonard

Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.

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Ronald Miller