AVON — John Buren Miller Jr. passed away gracefully into the arms ofalmighty God on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 9:15 a.m. John was born inPortsmouth, Va., on March 21, 1961. He lived in several locations overthe years as his father John Miller Sr. traveled and served in theUnited States Coast Guard. John would always identify Avon as his“home,” no matter how far and abroad the Coast Guard may have takenhim. He was a Kinnakeeter, through and through. John followed in hisfather’s footsteps and served in the United States Coast Guard as wellfor a total of seven years with honorable discharge. He lived for beingin and on the water, as it was his passion and he would soon becomeknown as one of the best captains the sea had ever had the pleasure ofsharing a home with.
After the Coast Guard, John started working for the North CarolinaFerry Division and quickly made rank as captain and would spend manydays and nights as captain on the ferry to Ocracoke. John loved hisfamily and friends deeply and they always came first in whatever it washe did. Family was his true passion and being a father was always hisgreatest accomplishment. John also loved to ride his Harley Davidsonand spend time with his “Southern Riders” brothers. I’m sure you passedhim at least once with his band of brothers by his side as he rode his“steel horse.” The Southern Riders became a big part of his live in hislast couple years and they quickly became a family to him, or as hewould put it a “brotherhood.”
John is survived by his wife of 30 years, Jettie Miller, and his son,Blake Wesley Miller. He is also survived by his mother, Nita Miller,sister, Teresa Midgett and husband Barry, and aunt Rose Scarborough.John is also survived by his niece, Amanda Midgett, and hisgreat-niece, Jasmine Midgett. He is survived by his uncle, DallasMiller, and his aunt, Lois Miller, along with their daughter MichelleMiller. John is survived as well by his many other nieces and nephews,including Daniel Midgett and Matt Midgett, as well as Rebekah Midgett.Other nieces and nephews included Preston, Waylan, Caleb, Ember, Emma,Ross, and Koleton Blake. He is survived by his sisters-in-law, DonnaMidgett, Cindy Brown, and Ronda. John is pre-deceased by hisfather John Miller,Sr., his nephew, Justin Keith Yopp, and hisgrandparents, Alvin and Edna Price, also including Dallas Miller, Sr.and Lucy Miller.
John had many people he considered family. Even though they may nothave been blood relatives, it was just the kind of heart he had and thekind of person he was. John was known for his ongoing generosity,always giving to people and he was always dependable to lend a helpinghand to anyone who was in need. John will be greatly missed by many,not only in his community but also from abroad. John touched the livesof many during his 54 years of life and he always said that he wantedto do one simple good deed a day, no matter how big or small, so eventhough it might not change the world, that good deed just might changesomebody’s world and to him that’s all that counted.
Johnny became a guardian to many, not only as a father, uncle orfriend, but a protector to many. John was a fisher of men. The Lordonly knows how many lives were saved or impacted by John for thebetter. He will be deeply missed but never forgotten.
A funeral service will be held 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 6, at St. JohnsUnited Methodist Church in Avon. The Rev. Benjamin Wolf willofficiate. Burial will be private.
The family has requested that any donations go to Gallop Funeral Services in Nags Head to help financially with funeral expenses and the family in general.
