Leon A. Miller

Leon was born on January 23, 1923, in Cherryville, Kansas, to Samuel and Hazel Miller.

At the age of 19, he chose to leave his hometown of Cherryville and he hiked to Joplin, Missouri, where he enlisted into the Army on February 12, 1942. After basic training, he elected to join the Amphibian Brigade. Upon completion of his specialized training, Private First-Class Leon Miller shipped out to the Pacific with his platoon, Company C, 532nd Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment. Leon was part of four missions and three battles, successfully fighting back the Japanese at Lae, Finschhafen in Hollandia and Wakde in New Guinea. After a gunshot wound to his right hand, Private First-Class Leon Miller was sent back to the states for treatment. He subsequently lost his middle finger to the gunshot wound. While in the hospital, he contracted malaria and remained there for over a year until he was well enough to be sent back home. Leon received an honorable discharge from the Army on December 9, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Good Conduct and Victory Medals, Asiatic Pacific Ribbon with three battle stars, and the American Campaign Ribbon.

After leaving the Army, Leon worked at various trades, until he found his home at Folgers Coffee in Kansas City, Missouri. He was a true company man, working his way up the ladder until his retirement. For as long as Leon was a part of our lives, Folgers was his coffee of choice!

Leon aka Lee joined our family when he married our mother, Barbara Jones Miller, in 1992. He was a warm and caring husband to our mother up until her passing in 2015. He was a cherished stepdad, grandpa and great grandpa to his new family. Grandpa Lee, as we liked to call him, took every opportunity to be "present" in our lives. Whether he was picking a grandchild up from school or attending a sporting event, he was excited to do it.

Leon also leaves behind a granddaughter and great grandson from his first marriage to Mary E. Miller, who predeceased him in 1986. Leon always carried a picture of his granddaughter in his wallet, which he was willing to share with pride at a moment’s notice.

Services will be held on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1357 NE 42nd Terrace, Kansas City, Mo. 64116. Visitation will be at the church from 1 - 2 p.m., with mass immediately following. Interment will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, 701 N 94th St., Kansas City, Ks 66112. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in remembrance of Leon A. Miller to: Our Lady Of Mercy Country Home, 2115 Maturana Drive, Liberty, Mo 64068.