Obituary for Laurel James "Jim" Miller
Laurel James “Jim” Miller, 73, of Springfield, MO went to his heavenly home on February 21, 2024. He was born on August 5, 1950 in Eugene, OR to Loren and Miriam (Primrose) Miller. The family moved to Iowa in 1954 and eventually grew to a family of ten. Jim attended Calumet Elementary School and Sutherland High School where he played the trumpet, was on the football team and graduated in 1968.
Jim was a hard worker and entrepreneur his whole life and was always looking for creative ways to make a dollar. As a teenager, he started a lawn mowing business with his sister Lynne and eventually purchased his first car with his earnings. In the five summers during his college years at Evangel University, he was a traveling salesman and recruiter for Southwestern. He sold books door to door in PA, AL, VA, NC, and IN. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Kansas State Teachers College in 1973. Jim opened a live plant and fish shop in 1976 that eventually expanded into a full line pet shop called “Surf and Turf Pet Shoppe” in Arkansas City, KS. There were many fun memories made at the pet shop!
In the 1980’s, Jim moved to Minnesota, worked for ITT Technical Institute and became actively involved in ministries to international students. His heart for missions was a lifelong passion. As a young child, he distinctly remembered God calling him to Cuba. He was able to travel to Cuba many times as well as other countries such as Guatemala, Costa Rica, Israel, and Egypt on mission trips. His true heart was always with Cuba and he could spend hours talking to anyone that would listen about his passion for the Cuban people. He helped raise funding to build and plant churches there and had hoped to travel again to Cuba later this fall.
Jim worked at the Assemblies of God Headquarters in Springfield, MO for 20 years until his retirement due to a cancer diagnosis and treatment in 2015. Jim would share his testimony of healing to countless people and always gave God full credit for his healing from cancer. Even at his death, his cancer was in remission and his testimony remains that cancer didn’t get him.
Jim enjoyed staying active, loved to talk to his family and friends for hours and never met a stranger. He found humor in everything, even if he had a tendency to drive his family crazy with his stories! He loved all of his family deeply, would say how much he loved all five of his kids and was profoundly proud of his four grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all that had the privilege to know him.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers-in-law. He is survived by his five children; Meggan Gordiani (Louie), Mendi Hayter (Jeremy), Michael Miller (Emily), Mathe Miller (Keely) and Majah Miller, four grandchildren; Caylin Hayter, Lexy Gordiani, Carson Hayter and Alyssa Gordiani, four brothers; Milo Miller (Jann), Lyle Miller (Ramona), Lonnie Miller (Jebi), Lloyd Miller (Sheila), three sisters Priscilla “Lynne” Peterson, Pam Squires, and Penny Davison, his best friend Monica Mitcham, many beloved nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family and friends.
Celebration of Life services will be at 4:00 pm on Monday, February 26, 2024 at New Vision Ministries Assembly of God Church, 1440 State Hwy AB, Springfield, MO 65802. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home.
If you would like to make a donation to purchase Fire Bibles for Cuban pastors and churches in the memory of Jim Miller, use Venmo: @Meggan-Gordiani
Jim was a hard worker and entrepreneur his whole life and was always looking for creative ways to make a dollar. As a teenager, he started a lawn mowing business with his sister Lynne and eventually purchased his first car with his earnings. In the five summers during his college years at Evangel University, he was a traveling salesman and recruiter for Southwestern. He sold books door to door in PA, AL, VA, NC, and IN. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Kansas State Teachers College in 1973. Jim opened a live plant and fish shop in 1976 that eventually expanded into a full line pet shop called “Surf and Turf Pet Shoppe” in Arkansas City, KS. There were many fun memories made at the pet shop!
In the 1980’s, Jim moved to Minnesota, worked for ITT Technical Institute and became actively involved in ministries to international students. His heart for missions was a lifelong passion. As a young child, he distinctly remembered God calling him to Cuba. He was able to travel to Cuba many times as well as other countries such as Guatemala, Costa Rica, Israel, and Egypt on mission trips. His true heart was always with Cuba and he could spend hours talking to anyone that would listen about his passion for the Cuban people. He helped raise funding to build and plant churches there and had hoped to travel again to Cuba later this fall.
Jim worked at the Assemblies of God Headquarters in Springfield, MO for 20 years until his retirement due to a cancer diagnosis and treatment in 2015. Jim would share his testimony of healing to countless people and always gave God full credit for his healing from cancer. Even at his death, his cancer was in remission and his testimony remains that cancer didn’t get him.
Jim enjoyed staying active, loved to talk to his family and friends for hours and never met a stranger. He found humor in everything, even if he had a tendency to drive his family crazy with his stories! He loved all of his family deeply, would say how much he loved all five of his kids and was profoundly proud of his four grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all that had the privilege to know him.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers-in-law. He is survived by his five children; Meggan Gordiani (Louie), Mendi Hayter (Jeremy), Michael Miller (Emily), Mathe Miller (Keely) and Majah Miller, four grandchildren; Caylin Hayter, Lexy Gordiani, Carson Hayter and Alyssa Gordiani, four brothers; Milo Miller (Jann), Lyle Miller (Ramona), Lonnie Miller (Jebi), Lloyd Miller (Sheila), three sisters Priscilla “Lynne” Peterson, Pam Squires, and Penny Davison, his best friend Monica Mitcham, many beloved nephews, nieces, cousins, extended family and friends.
Celebration of Life services will be at 4:00 pm on Monday, February 26, 2024 at New Vision Ministries Assembly of God Church, 1440 State Hwy AB, Springfield, MO 65802. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home.
If you would like to make a donation to purchase Fire Bibles for Cuban pastors and churches in the memory of Jim Miller, use Venmo: @Meggan-Gordiani