Rodney Edward Miller

Rodney Edward Miller, age 88, of Union, died, Thursday, April 17, 2003 at the Grande Ronde Hospital.


A funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 24, 2003 at 2:00 in the afternoon at the Union Methodist Church with The Rev. Jerry Peters and The Rev. Ernest Smith officiating. Committal and interment will follow at the Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande. Friends may call on Wednesday from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Daniels Chapel of the Valley.


Mr. Miller was born on May 20, 1914, the son of Simon "Edward" and Elida (Stackland) Miller in Union. He graduated from Union High School with the class of 1932. After 3 years of college he started working for his father. In 1941 he married Alma DeLong from La Grande. Shortly after the marriage he was drafted and served with the United States Army during World War II. Rodney returned to Union after the War and built his present home outside of Union in 1947. Rodney and Alma had two daughters, Maureen Alma and Cathy Renee. Due to ill health, Alma passed away just before Easter in 1973. In June 1975 he married school teacher, June Aileen Coolidge. They lived on his home farm until her death in 1989.


Mr. Miller farmed on his ranch all his life, showed sheep in 4-H as a child and entered mule races held at the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show during his teens. For three years he worked for the stock show guarding the north gate where parades and all the arena livestock could gain access to the arena and racetrack. He and his sister, Elida, rode as a pair at the stock show in the original mounted Quadrille Team.
After retiring from farming in 1979 he joined the Grande Ronde Valley Masonic Lodge in 1980 and the Grande Ronde Valley Order of Eastern Star in 1981. In 1982 he joined the Scottish Rites in Baker City and in 1983 he joined the Union County Shrine Club.

Survivors include his daughters, Maureen Dunbar of Union and Cathy Stewart of Walla Walla; grandchildren, Russell Stewart, Jennifer Comfort, Jason Carman, Erick Carman, Michelle Aldrich and Debra Stuart and CW Dunbar; sixteen great grandchildren; special friend, Evelyn Gooderham; and other relatives and friends. Sisters, Elida and Bethene and brother, Odin, preceded him in death.

Those who wish may make contributions in memory of Mr. Miller to the Union Methodist Church.