Thomas Jefferson Miller

THOMAS JEFFERSON MILLER, aka TJ Miller or Tommy was born to Henry Thomas and Martha Pittman Miller, September 24, 1924 in Corbin, Kentucky. He was the 4th of 13 children. Survived by siblings Ramona Barrett, Lula Broughton, Mary Ellen Hatfield and Harold Miller (Marie). Also survived by son Kenneth Miller (Lori), daughter Tana Jean Miller (Danny), granddaughters Desiree Husselbee, Rose Hill (Harley), Susan Lehman (Matt), Ashley Whitmyer (David), Great grandchildren Amanda, Christopher, Lincoln, Presley, Damon, Lotte, Nora, Olivia and Great Great grandchildren Jayson and Adelyn. Preceded in death by sisters Elizabeth Ivy, Amanda Messer, Effie Smith, Juanita Hutton and Nancy Grubb, brothers Henry Miller, Kenneth Lee Miller and Eugene Miller, daughters Deborah Gaye and Rebecca Ann and loving wife of 67 years, Lillian Lorraine, "Miss Queen".

TJ grew up on a farm and attended a country school outside Barberville, Kentucky. He would walk up the Green Road "Holler" to school in the dark an hour early to start the fires in the classrooms for a nickel a week. He and his brothers would regularly collect coal that had fallen from the coal trains. Sometimes they would get up on the trains and somehow more coal would accidentally fall off, so they would gather those too.

Around 8th grade, he left school to help on the farm then along with his brothers he joined the CC Corp. They each made $30/month of which they kept $5 and sent the rest home.

He enlisted in the US Army in 1943 and there began a long career serving our country. He received many letters of commendation and appreciation, obtaining the final rank of SFC E-7. He fought in World War II as a foot soldier and heavy gunnery operator in the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, where he was sent to New Guinea and then wounded. While recuperating in Oahu, HI he was driving meals to outposts around the island and when he pulled up to one of them, everyone was hooping and hollering. He found out the war had ended.

He reenlisted and while stationed at Fort Lawton, WA he met a pretty girl, Lillian Zumwinkle, working the lunch counter at the base commissary and asked her out. She stood him up the first try but he did not give up. They married and began their life together in Seattle, WA . He was a cook at Mess Hall #2, Fort Lawton. During that time, Kenny was born and then the Korean Conflict sent him to South Korea where he was once again wounded by a mortar shell and sustained shrapnel damage to his hip, shoulders and neck. After recuperation in Japan, he was sent back to the front line in Korea. He fulfilled his commitment and was sent home before the war ended.

During his enlistment Dad was part of the First Nuclear Tests series, code named Ranger in Nevada, which consisted of five air-dropped nuclear tests in early 1951. These men were test subjects to study the effects of radiation fallout on the human body.

Debbie was born next, and Dad was reassigned to Germany. Mom, Kenny and Debbie joined him where Becky was born. Returning home from Germany, Becky was diagnosed with polio. Dad painstakingly performed physical therapy with Becky every night when he returned from the base.

He was then sent to South Korea again in peacetime, ironically ten miles from where he had fought and was wounded. While there, once he won $5,000 in an all-night dice game so he sent $3500 home to mom and he kept $1500 and bought a car. $5000 would be the equivalent of $50,000 today. He returned home to Seattle where Tana Jean was born. They bought a house in Ballard when he was in charge of the Officer's Mess. The Army then asked him to go to Vietnam to train foot soldiers in hand-to-hand combat. That is when he said he had served his country long enough and retired from military service honorably in 1963.

Upon retirement from the Army, he went to work for Civil Service as a meat cutter at Sand Point Naval Air Station Commissary. He worked in Civil Service until he retired.

Before retirement, mom and dad had purchased a 16-acre hobby farm in Alger, Skagit County. They raised beef and always had a large vegetable garden. Dad used to bring the cows day old bakery goods in his red van and boy were they excited when he came driving up. Dad spent many weekends at "the cabin". We all have fond memories of visiting "the cabin". When we visited, there was always a pot of beans cooking on the stove. He enjoyed working with his tractor.

Even at home he always had a vegetable garden. His other passions were gambling. He was especially proficient in poker, black jack and dice. He loved watching The Grand Ole Opry and the Mariners.

The past seven years, Granddaughter Desiree has lived with and cared for Dad, which enabled him to remain in his home until he passed. They formed a beautiful bond and we are all so grateful for her exceptional and loving care. Tana Jean was a devoted daughter and checked on him multiple times each day. They had dinner together every Saturday. Devoted son Kenny came down weekly and loved hearing his stories of growing up and his military experiences.

Through his upbringing, sharing with friends and family, anyone who ever visited could not leave without a meal or groceries. He always wanted to feed you. Hospitality was his nature.

He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.

He was one of the last of the greatest generation that helped make this county what it is today.