Elmer Noel Miller

Elmer Noel Miller, 79, of Rich Hill, Mo., died at his farm with his family at his bedside on Tuesday, April 10, 2012, after a short illness. Elmer was born June 8, 1932, at his home in Panama, Mo. He was the youngest of five children born to George Samuel and Naomi Alpha (Floyd) Miller.

Elmer graduated from Rich Hill High School in 1951. At the age of 20, he entered the United States Army and served as military police during the Korean War. His service took him all over Germany. Soon after his return from military service, he met Bobbie Jean Cargill at the Speedy Drive-In in Nevada, Mo. They were married on Oct. 30, 1955. Bobbie preceded him in death in 1983.

Elmer and Bobbie had five children: Becky Isaacson and her late husband, Dean, of Adair, Okla., Joe Miller and wife, Lisa, of Nevada, Eileen Casey and husband, Earl, of Rich Hill, Mo., Karen Tillery and husband, Kenny, of Rich Hill, Mo., and Andy Miller and wife, Cara, of Nevada. Elmer had 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Born and raised on the family farm south of Rich Hill, Mo., Elmer attended his first eight years of school at Horton, Mo., before transferring to Rich Hill High School. As a young man, he joined the Arthur Baptist Church and was active in a conservation program called Missouri Nature Knights. He enjoyed growing up on a farm where he rode horses, fished, hunted, and worked the land. He farmed all of his life and worked a short time for the Schooley Coal Co. He was well-known for growing and selling produce at the "Miller Produce Stand" on his farm along U.S. Highway 71, south of Rich Hill.

Elmer was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Delmas Dean, Floyd David (Sandy), Ivan George Miller; one sister, Virginia May (Miller) Boyd; and one grandson, Kylwann Jerome Isaacson.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 14, at 2 p.m., at the Heuser Funeral Home, Rich Hill, with burial and military rites in the Balltown Cemetery, Horton, Mo. The family will receive friends Friday, from 7-8 p.m., at the Heuser Funeral Home. The family suggests memorials to be made to the Rich Hill FFA in care of the Heuser Funeral Home.