Obituary for Vernon R. Miller
Vernon Rube Miller Jr. was welcomed into the gates of glory June 30, 2020 by his
Lord and Savior. Vernon was born on July 2, 1946 to Vernon Miller, Sr., and Wanda
Jean Smith Miller.
Vernon lived life to the fullest. His favorite quote was, “It’s Bigger Than Dallas”:
to those who knew and loved Vernon, he was Bigger Than Dallas and affectionately known as
Big V. He was an entrepreneur who was never afraid to take a chance, make a change, in vocation or location, and he was happiest when he was in motion, or traveling down the highway, and then across the Ocean to Maui, Hawaii to the place of Aloha, a place that he called his home from the first moment that he laid eyes on the Hawaiian Islands.
In 1987 Vernon and Connie married in a beautiful church service in the mountains of Maryland.
Together Vernon and Connie (Crowe) moved to Maui, Hawaii and this led him to a career that he lived, and breathed, and loved. Together they opened a real estate company Elite Island Properties. His esteemed Real Estate career spanned for 25 years and he won many Real Estate awards, and had many clients from all walks of life and cultures whom he helped, and who loved and trusted him implicitly.
In 1992 Vernon and Connie welcomed a son Vernon R. Miller III, into their life, and for the next 19 years Vernon enjoyed his family, friends, and First Assembly of God Church in the Hawaiian Islands, living and practicing the Aloha that was in his giant size heart. Together Vernon, Connie and V.J lived a life and had a family closeness that is unsurpassed.
In Hawaii Vernon was a practicing Rotarian, and received a Paul Harris award. He enjoyed the colors, the beauty, the family and friendliness of the Hawaiian Islands, and became a practicing Christian at Kings Cathedral, and in 1998 he received a miracle, a second chance at life after recovering from a massive pulmonary embolism. After a 45-day recovery, he went back to Real Estate sales and continued selling Maui properties.
In 2011 Vernon along with Connie and V.J made a giant move back to Vernon’s home state of Oklahoma wanting to spend quality time with family and friends. The younger years that Vernon spent in Oklahoma made him the man that he was, he lost his father at age 3, and he learned the art of survival and paving his own way from an early age.
He was raised by mother Wanda, his grandfather Joe, and his Aunt and Uncle Bill and Betty and together they raised him with all of the fine qualities and attributes of an Oklahoman. Strength, Perseverance, Independence, and Friendliness.
For most of his early years he resided in the small town of Ringling Oklahoma and was proud of the fact that he was a Ringling Blue Devil. Vernon excelled in sports and academics and received a regional award for business. Although he participated in basketball, and track, he loved football with a passion and was awarded a football scholarship to Cameron College. Today he still holds the record for the longest touchdown, longest pass to catch and receive at Ringling High School, and he was proud of his quarterback days.
After High School Vernon married Freda Mae (Allen) Folsom, from Ringling, Ok and together they had three children together, Veronica, Baron, and Falesha Miller and lived on a ranch in Ringling, Ok. At that time in his life, he was a rancher, and owned and operated heavy equipment and for a time he was an under Sheriff, and a Bouncer at Maggie’s.
As a young man, he was a pipe fitter, following in the steps of his Father, and traveling across the United States, and life's highway, and then to the North slope of Alaska where he worked as a pipe fitter and Bouncer for the union. His career as a pipe fitter was not his favorite vocation; however, it was life changing for him in more ways than one.
Vernon earned his private pilot license while living in Oklahoma and enjoyed the freedom of the skies and looking at the distant horizons, he loved scuba diving the underwater world of Maui with his wife Connie Miller, and he mastered the Hawaiian sling and was a spear fisherman and free diver; diving into underwater caves to fish.
Vernon was pre-deceased by his Father Vernon R. Miller, Sr., his Mother Wanda (Smith) Miller-Green, his sister, Judy Ingram, and his son-in-law, Steve Hughes.
He is survived by his wife, best friend, and soul mate, Connie Miller, of the home; the love they had was endless, and everlasting, and his son, Vernon Miller III, who was a best friend, and companion to his father throughout his life and made his last years more bearable and joyful. In 2017 Yolanda (Taylor) Miller, V.J.’s wife, became a part of the family and loved Vernon like a father. Vernon was happy to see that his son had met his soulmate.
Vernon’s children, whom he had many memories of their life and times together on the ranch in Ringling, OK include Veronica Hughes (Ringling, OK), Baron Miller (Kellye) of Papillion, NE and Falesha Wood (Robby) Wichita Falls, Texas and seven grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.
Vernon was proud of all of his children, and Grandchildren and their accomplishments and loved them all deeply!
As he enters Heavens golden gates he will be looking for his devoted canine companions Dancer, and Destiny who gave him so many happy and golden moments, and unconditional love. It comforted him to know that he would be seeing them once more.
Vernon’s last years were made more comfortable and happier by the devotion and love of his brother Robert Green- the brothers had an enduring bond and friendship. His years were made happier by his Aunt and Uncle, Trudy Whitacre, and Raymond Whitacre (Cumberland, Maryland) who provided friendship, love, and family support for many years to him, Connie and V.J. Miller. He is survived by his mother-in-law, Joyce Lichliter and all of Connie’s aunts, uncles, and cousins. Vernon always considered Connie’s family in Maryland as his family.
Vernon always remembered living with his Aunt and Uncle Bill and Betty Smith, and thought of his cousins Ricky, Rodney and Brent, and Tracy as Brothers, and it was living in that family unit that helped mold him into that man that he was. His extended family was always in his memories all the days of his life. Vernon would have liked Jason Rankin to know that he was always in his thoughts and prayers; and he would wish him all the best as he moves forward in his life.
He always remembered and talked about his childhood friends, and high school friends. He considered them friends forever and talked about them frequently. He had many clients who became life-long friends, and he had two special sets of friends that he considered Ohana and that was The Ishii Family (Japan), and The Campbell-Gillies family (Maui, HI).
Vernon will be cremated and his ashes will be buried in a local cemetery with his favorite view, a water view, a place for family and friends to go, reflect and remember Vernon Miller. Some of the ashes will be taken to Maui, Hawaii, and he will live once again in the tropical blue waters of the great Pacific Ocean, with palm trees swaying in the wind, each morning starting with a peaceful golden sunrise and every evening ending with a brilliant sunset in all the colors of the rainbow.
As we say Aloha, not only a word, but a feeling the presence of breath, of love and affection as big as the Sky we remember a BIG MAN, larger than life, with a heart full of Aloha spirit who loved life and was valiant in his quest to battle his illness, he was always a warrior when he needed to be and fought for his life, and all whom he believed in.
A hui hou kakou Big V (Until We Meet Again)
Lord and Savior. Vernon was born on July 2, 1946 to Vernon Miller, Sr., and Wanda
Jean Smith Miller.
Vernon lived life to the fullest. His favorite quote was, “It’s Bigger Than Dallas”:
to those who knew and loved Vernon, he was Bigger Than Dallas and affectionately known as
Big V. He was an entrepreneur who was never afraid to take a chance, make a change, in vocation or location, and he was happiest when he was in motion, or traveling down the highway, and then across the Ocean to Maui, Hawaii to the place of Aloha, a place that he called his home from the first moment that he laid eyes on the Hawaiian Islands.
In 1987 Vernon and Connie married in a beautiful church service in the mountains of Maryland.
Together Vernon and Connie (Crowe) moved to Maui, Hawaii and this led him to a career that he lived, and breathed, and loved. Together they opened a real estate company Elite Island Properties. His esteemed Real Estate career spanned for 25 years and he won many Real Estate awards, and had many clients from all walks of life and cultures whom he helped, and who loved and trusted him implicitly.
In 1992 Vernon and Connie welcomed a son Vernon R. Miller III, into their life, and for the next 19 years Vernon enjoyed his family, friends, and First Assembly of God Church in the Hawaiian Islands, living and practicing the Aloha that was in his giant size heart. Together Vernon, Connie and V.J lived a life and had a family closeness that is unsurpassed.
In Hawaii Vernon was a practicing Rotarian, and received a Paul Harris award. He enjoyed the colors, the beauty, the family and friendliness of the Hawaiian Islands, and became a practicing Christian at Kings Cathedral, and in 1998 he received a miracle, a second chance at life after recovering from a massive pulmonary embolism. After a 45-day recovery, he went back to Real Estate sales and continued selling Maui properties.
In 2011 Vernon along with Connie and V.J made a giant move back to Vernon’s home state of Oklahoma wanting to spend quality time with family and friends. The younger years that Vernon spent in Oklahoma made him the man that he was, he lost his father at age 3, and he learned the art of survival and paving his own way from an early age.
He was raised by mother Wanda, his grandfather Joe, and his Aunt and Uncle Bill and Betty and together they raised him with all of the fine qualities and attributes of an Oklahoman. Strength, Perseverance, Independence, and Friendliness.
For most of his early years he resided in the small town of Ringling Oklahoma and was proud of the fact that he was a Ringling Blue Devil. Vernon excelled in sports and academics and received a regional award for business. Although he participated in basketball, and track, he loved football with a passion and was awarded a football scholarship to Cameron College. Today he still holds the record for the longest touchdown, longest pass to catch and receive at Ringling High School, and he was proud of his quarterback days.
After High School Vernon married Freda Mae (Allen) Folsom, from Ringling, Ok and together they had three children together, Veronica, Baron, and Falesha Miller and lived on a ranch in Ringling, Ok. At that time in his life, he was a rancher, and owned and operated heavy equipment and for a time he was an under Sheriff, and a Bouncer at Maggie’s.
As a young man, he was a pipe fitter, following in the steps of his Father, and traveling across the United States, and life's highway, and then to the North slope of Alaska where he worked as a pipe fitter and Bouncer for the union. His career as a pipe fitter was not his favorite vocation; however, it was life changing for him in more ways than one.
Vernon earned his private pilot license while living in Oklahoma and enjoyed the freedom of the skies and looking at the distant horizons, he loved scuba diving the underwater world of Maui with his wife Connie Miller, and he mastered the Hawaiian sling and was a spear fisherman and free diver; diving into underwater caves to fish.
Vernon was pre-deceased by his Father Vernon R. Miller, Sr., his Mother Wanda (Smith) Miller-Green, his sister, Judy Ingram, and his son-in-law, Steve Hughes.
He is survived by his wife, best friend, and soul mate, Connie Miller, of the home; the love they had was endless, and everlasting, and his son, Vernon Miller III, who was a best friend, and companion to his father throughout his life and made his last years more bearable and joyful. In 2017 Yolanda (Taylor) Miller, V.J.’s wife, became a part of the family and loved Vernon like a father. Vernon was happy to see that his son had met his soulmate.
Vernon’s children, whom he had many memories of their life and times together on the ranch in Ringling, OK include Veronica Hughes (Ringling, OK), Baron Miller (Kellye) of Papillion, NE and Falesha Wood (Robby) Wichita Falls, Texas and seven grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.
Vernon was proud of all of his children, and Grandchildren and their accomplishments and loved them all deeply!
As he enters Heavens golden gates he will be looking for his devoted canine companions Dancer, and Destiny who gave him so many happy and golden moments, and unconditional love. It comforted him to know that he would be seeing them once more.
Vernon’s last years were made more comfortable and happier by the devotion and love of his brother Robert Green- the brothers had an enduring bond and friendship. His years were made happier by his Aunt and Uncle, Trudy Whitacre, and Raymond Whitacre (Cumberland, Maryland) who provided friendship, love, and family support for many years to him, Connie and V.J. Miller. He is survived by his mother-in-law, Joyce Lichliter and all of Connie’s aunts, uncles, and cousins. Vernon always considered Connie’s family in Maryland as his family.
Vernon always remembered living with his Aunt and Uncle Bill and Betty Smith, and thought of his cousins Ricky, Rodney and Brent, and Tracy as Brothers, and it was living in that family unit that helped mold him into that man that he was. His extended family was always in his memories all the days of his life. Vernon would have liked Jason Rankin to know that he was always in his thoughts and prayers; and he would wish him all the best as he moves forward in his life.
He always remembered and talked about his childhood friends, and high school friends. He considered them friends forever and talked about them frequently. He had many clients who became life-long friends, and he had two special sets of friends that he considered Ohana and that was The Ishii Family (Japan), and The Campbell-Gillies family (Maui, HI).
Vernon will be cremated and his ashes will be buried in a local cemetery with his favorite view, a water view, a place for family and friends to go, reflect and remember Vernon Miller. Some of the ashes will be taken to Maui, Hawaii, and he will live once again in the tropical blue waters of the great Pacific Ocean, with palm trees swaying in the wind, each morning starting with a peaceful golden sunrise and every evening ending with a brilliant sunset in all the colors of the rainbow.
As we say Aloha, not only a word, but a feeling the presence of breath, of love and affection as big as the Sky we remember a BIG MAN, larger than life, with a heart full of Aloha spirit who loved life and was valiant in his quest to battle his illness, he was always a warrior when he needed to be and fought for his life, and all whom he believed in.
A hui hou kakou Big V (Until We Meet Again)