Life story

"James Arthur Miller of Montgomery County, Pa, passed away on Wednesday, August 26, 2020.

James is preceded in death by his wife Kathryn, his parents, James and Viola Miller, sisters Claire Moulder and Katherine Lytle, and son-in-law Garry Emler. He is survived by his daughters Lois Leach (Craig), Joan Emler and LuWanna Nielsen (Mark).

James has a great legacy with nine grandchildren - Joy Nielsen Masterson (Rick Allman), Theresa Leach Faultner (Casey), Stephanie Leach Colbert (David), Eric Emler (Nikki), Nick Nielsen (Megan), Rita Nielsen Udulutch (Jason), Justin Miller (Kristin), Donald Nielsen (Jana) and Erin Emler; 17 great-grandchildren - Nicole Faultner, Skyler Faultner, Izack Nielsen Sandy, Barbara Williams (James), Michael Whalley, Cody Colbert, Andrew Udulutch, Kali Faultner, James Emler, Hope Colbert, Richard Masterson, Jacob Nielsen, Brooklynn Nielsen, Aubrey Udulutch, Logan Emler, Shelby Udulutch and Tyler Miller; and one great-great-grandchild, Willow Williams.

At an early age, James joined his father in running the family business - Miller General Hauling, a commercial refuse disposal company in Conshohocken, Pa. Following the death of his father, James chose to close the business and lend his talents to metal fabrication and machining at Amerind MacKissic in Pennsylvania before moving to Phoenix, Ariz., with his family in 1975. He went to work for Chemko Corporation designing, fabricating and manufacturing industrial carpet machines. In the early 1980s, he helped start a new venture (Metal Masters) with his brother-in-law and nephew, while working for Sargent Plastic Machining. James spent a good number of years volunteering and working at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #2 in Phoenix. He was also an active member and board member of the Fraternal Order of Police Associate Lodge. To remain busy in his retirement years, James worked for Avalanche in their shipping and receiving area.

James was a reservist in the Army National Guard in 1957 and 1958, and was honorably discharged for medical reasons following an auto accident. In his younger days (early 1960s), James raced Pebbles, a 1941 Plymouth, (tow vehicle Bam-Bam) at Vargo Dragstrip in Perkasie, Pa. Whether it was a long leisurely drive with his wife Kathryn, ambling down the highway in the motorhome or being a bit of a crazy man on the sand dunes in Southern California, James was always in the best of spirits around cars or on the open road.

For James, his wife Kathryn, was the love of his life. He always told the story of how he fell in love with her the first moment he saw her through the window of her father's car; she was just 12 years old, he was 14, and it was pouring-down rain. They were married for nearly 62 when she passed in early July of 2019, and although he had his daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren nearby for the past year, he missed Kathryn very much. The family is finding comfort in knowing they are now together.

James was a caring man who loved his family deeply. He and his unique sense of humor will be sorely missed.

A private graveside service will be held at Tempe Double Buttes Cemetery, 2505 W Broadway Rd, Tempe, AZ 85282."