Paul Ellsworth Miller
Paul Ellsworth Miller was born on March 15, 1958 in Everett, WA to Lois Norwood, nee Hawley, and Clyde Miller, giving Paul and his 2 brothers 3 older half-sisters: Sharon Miller (Everett), Diane Thrasher and Joni Faria (Jack). Paul always said he got “not younger” in Spring Valley, CA, instead of growing up (questionable). In his twenties, when his roofing job with “Odom Roofing” was “rained out” for 8 weeks, he moved from Spring Valley, CA to Sullivan, MO to work for Mobil Oil with his father, Clyde Miller. Our family remains friends with the owners, Keith and Barbara Gibson, his best friend Randy & Julie, and younger brother Russell. Randy and Paul also played guitars and sang together at the Trojan Horse in California between sets (Logins and Messina, Beach Boys and the Beatles were some they sang). Sullivan is where he met the love of his life, Cynthia Miller, nee Cornman, introduced by her sister, Cathy Cornman, at the Bobber Travel Center in Sullivan. He would joke that Cindy & Cathy both met their spouses in a truck stop “dining room”. At the time, Paul was sitting with his best friend, Harrison “Dan” Daniels, and prior roofing Supervisor. Dan, Nina and their family hold special places in our hearts.
As a child, Paul loved to play baseball. He pitched in the little/junior league, and would never give his little brother Ernie a break when he was up to bat. He was a paper delivery boy. He bowled youth league and continued bowling until his wrist was injured in his 30’s. He also competed in high school swim, basketball, and long jump teams. He quit the swim team (whole body shaving and speedos-NOT!!) He had negative buoyancy and as of earlier this year he could still swim underwater from one end of an Olympic pool to the other underwater and back.
Paul loved photography, introduced to it by his best friend Michael’s dad, Dave Friend (aerial photographer), and excelled in his high school photography classes, where he learned more, and also how to process film in a dark room. He transitioned to digital around 2006. We opened “Affordable Photography” and he added senior pictures, weddings, and his favorite, pet/animal/nature photography. He always said, “You expect animals to misbehave, but people should know better.” He transformed our deck into a bird paradise, with many feeders and natural props, taking beautiful pictures out the dining room window, which he often shared on Facebook.
He and his friend Mark Baumann collected various reptiles, snakes, insects and frogs to sell to a pet shop in Lemon Grove, and sometimes enjoyed rock hunting. He told us many stories about volunteering in the Fins and Feathers Pet Shop, with crazy parrots causing trouble, and an escapee monitor lizard in Live Cargo Pet Store in La Mesa, CA – owned and managed by his friend Mark Baumann
After high school, he managed the campus drive-in theatre snack bar with his best friends, Mark Baumann, Mike Friend, Randy Gibson, Gary Higgins and many more. Tom Warne, the Motion Picture Projectionist, wife Sandy and their family became lifelong friends. We visited/stayed with Tom and Sandy several times in California, most recently in October 2021 with Sandy. He told us how the owner at the drive-in insisted the perfect pot of coffee must be chestnut color and transparent. People tried to sneak in extra people in their trunks (obvious when a car’s back end nearly dragged) and how his friend Kevin Bland dropped some pizzas and the customer said, “No worries, these are for my dog, I would never eat these.” Dad and his friends rode their bikes all over the Spring Valley area, including Dictionary Hill. He took us there once on vacation, no thank you!
Recently, he and mom went to visit both Mission Beach and the Children’s Wading Pool in La Jolla, with the Killer Wall, where he and his friends played games racing against the tide. Dad said it made him homesick. We went to Spring Valley in October for the 60th Year Anniversary of Mount Miguel Covenant Church. Paul reunited with and introduced me to friends he had not seen in many years.
Paul’s sense of humor was one of a kind and sometimes it got him into trouble. He could make anyone laugh, even people in a hospital elevator. Once the elevator doors closed he would say “I know you’re wondering why I gathered you all here today…” and then the fun began. Paul was a loving husband and father, and thought of David and Ann Cornman as his Dad and Mom too. He spent many a day with David on projects, and helping eat Ann’s great cooking! He coached many years of girls’ softball, feeling like a father/mentor to many. He played in local softball leagues with friends and cousins in Sullivan and even organized the Drug Awareness Softball Tournament Fundraiser for the Sullivan Police Department. He and friends Gary, Corey, Tim, Tom and Brandi Bartle, Stan and Robby Shaeffer, along with some other Lion’s Club members (maybe Cindy’s Dad) organized a “Kid’s fishing Day” at the City Lake. His skin-diving came in handy removing moss and setting up the boundary in the lake. Our girls and other town children had a blast.
Paul taught children’s church at Evergreen Baptist in Leslie for several years. He owned/managed Mr. Movie, one of the first video rental stores in Sullivan, making many new friends along the way. Paul had many friends and family that he spoke to on a regular basis: Joni & Jack Faria, Dawn Salyer, Mason Horn, Randy Gibson, Mike & Pat Center, Dr. Jim Benecke, Sandy Warne, Michael Friend, Kevin Bland, and texting/emailing more often than that. Please forgive me if I left anyone off. Paul’s photography of nature and animals was admired by many, with 30+ covers published for I Love Cats magazine.
Paul was invited to Mount Miguel Covenant Church by his best friend, Michael Friend, and he attended with their family and came to accept Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. He quit the school basketball team and joined the church basketball team. Many outreaches on the beach during grunion running time, and others as well. He and Cindyanne started the first Family Fun Day and Car Show at Evergreen Baptist Church to draw new members into the church, which later became Octoberfest. In 2021, several new members were gained!
When Paul became sick with Covid-19, he was talking to someone on the phone and stated “I’m trying to help the girls and Cindy understand, ‘For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain’ (Philippians 1:21).”
Paul and Cindy had planned to move to the Flagstaff, Arizona area next year, to improve his quality of life with his vestibular neuropathy. He was also working toward starting a non-profit with his nature and animal photos for people having dialysis and chemo infusions, and in nursing homes, etc. Cindy will endeavor to fulfill this for Paul.
Paul is survived by his wife, Cynthia “Cindy” Miller; daughters, Claire and Cindyanne Miller, of Sullivan, MO; sisters, Joni (Jack) & families; niece, Dawn Salyer & Stanley TB Johnson II & families; Diane Thrasher, son Jeff, daughters Tami & Lisa & families; brother, Ken and wife Mandi & nephew Stanley, his wife Dawn & family; James and wife Misty and son Clyde; Uncle James “Jimmy” Miller, his wife Terri and families; Aunts: Connie, Lillie and Shirley & families; many nieces, nephews & cousins: Liz Orf, Mark Miller, Sr., Mark Miller, Jr. & wife Jenny & family, and Melissa Emerson; Mother and Father-in-law, David and Clara “Ann” Cornman; Paul Cornman & wife Sheilan & family, Cathy Busch and husband Jeff; and many special friends who will miss his presence dearly.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Lois; his father, Clyde; brother, Ernest Miller; most recently, his sister, Sharon Miller, and great nephew, Gavin Cornman; also many aunts, uncles, cousins and beloved friends.
A Celebration of Life was held 1 p.m., Saturday, January 1, 2022 at the Sullivan Eagles Aerie #3781 (Small Hall), with Pastor Tom Rudloff officiating. Family & friends were invited to stay for a meal which was served immediately following the service.
Memorial contributions in Paul’s memory may either be made directly to his family and/or to the American Diabetes Association.
Friends may send online condolences to Paul’s family at www.eatonfuneralhome.com.
All arrangements are under the care of the Eaton Funeral Home and Cremation Center of Sullivan.