James Miller

Services are scheduled for 10 am Wednesday, November 15 at Trinity Temple Assemblly of God for James T. Miller of Artesia, New Mexico.

Mr. Miller, 95, died on November 4, 2023 in Artesia.

Bobby Argo will officiate at the services with burial to follow at Woodbine Cemetery.

James was born on August 7, 1928 in Artesia; the son of Jack Miller and Francis Luttrell Miller.   His family has a long history in Artesia and Loco Hills with his grandfather coming to the area in 1887 and his father being born in New Mexico while it was still a territory. In high school James joined the Air Force Auxilliary and by the age of 15 he knew how to fly and airplane. Upon graduation he joined the Army and even though he already knew how to fly, they would not let him pilot a plane until he was 18. After completing his training in Spokane, Washington he met with the instructor andon his first flight, after making two perfect landings, the instructor cleared him to fly. He served in the Army Air Corp during World War II in the 18th Air Transport Command.

While in the military he met the woman who, in 1948, would become his wife, Mickey Scott. They were married for 56 years and had four children together.

After the military, he returned to Roswell and worked as an electrician for Purdy Electric. He then attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque where he received his Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduation he went to work for Reynolds Engineering and eventually the company Newberry Electric. They sent him to Anaheim to work on the electrical installation of a new theme park called Disneyland.

He was offered a job with NASA, where he worked for the next three decades before a horseback riding accident forced him to retire early. He spent his time with NASA attending to all of the space shuttles after they touched down. He stated "My favorite ship was the Discovery, it was my main ship, and I loved that ship."

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mickey Louise Miller, a son Ronald Glen Miller, brothers Marshall Miller, Ralph Miller, sister Billie Alfonso, and son-in-law Dennis Lehman.

Survivors include his children Lillian Irene Foster-Lehman, Cynthia K. Gary and husband Robert, and Brenda Gail Havranek; brothers Archie Miller, and Charles Miller; sister Addy May Gast; daughter-in-law jan Miller; grandchildren Troy Kern and wife Bambi, Keenan Kern and wife Carrie, Monique Foster Orquiz and husband Chilo, Eddie James Foster and Jackie, Micah Foster and wife Brook, and Tasha Foster; great-grandchildren Lucas Kern, Devin Kern, Jason Kern, Taylor Kern, Jeremy Lehman, Mikaela Foster, and Nathaniel Hopkins, Ralynn Foster, Elijah Foster, Chris Foster, Korinne Foster, Eden Foster, Kree Foster, Dawson Foster, Darian Foster, Kylee Foster, Shyanne Gaytan, Kaymann Elston, Justin Gomes, Zeke Orquiz, Baylee Gryczewski, Kyler McCroskey, Ashley Havranek and Sean Urtiage; and also by 28 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will include Troy Kern, Keenan Kern, Eddy Foster, Micha Foster, Jeremy Lehman, and Chilo Orquiz.