Robert Jay Miller
September 8, 1931 – May 31, 2024)
Robert Jay “Jaybird” Miller, 92, of Shelbyville, IL, passed away at 8:07 p.m. on Friday, May 31, 2024 in HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital, Shelbyville, IL.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 4, 2024, in Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville, IL with Rev. Mark Sanders officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Monday, June 3, 2024, in the funeral home. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, IL with military rites by the Shelby County Honor Guard. Memorials may be given to the FUMC Food Pantry in Shelbyville or Lake Land College Foundation for Vocational Programs.
Mr. Miller was born on September 8, 1931, at home in Shelbyville, IL, the son of Lew Allen “Jack” and Florence (McFarland) Miller. He graduated from Shelbyville High School in the Class of 1950. Jay was a US Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War, serving from 1952-1954 and earning medals for his National Defense Service, Korean Service and United Nations Service. Jay returned from the service and was a grain and livestock farmer near Shelbyville, IL. While farming, he also worked for the Oliver Corporation for 20 years, owned Miller’s Furniture Store from 1970-1983, worked for Bill Sain’s Auto Body repair shop, painted homes, and worked for Super Wash, all in Shelbyville, IL. Jay was a former member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Shelbyville and the Shelby County Farm Bureau. He loved writing poetry and engaging in spirited conversations. Jay married Mildred Louise Osborn on March 7, 1954, in Shelbyville, IL.
He is survived by his wife, Mildred; sons, Randy Miller (Cathy) of Taylorville, IL and Charles Miller of Jefferson City, MO; daughters, Kathy Butler (Randy) of Sullivan, IL and Tina Tripp (Steve) of Sullivan, IL; sister, Charlotte Ann Carlson of Decatur, IL: eleven grandchildren, Kent England (Amber), Zach England, Kayla Lineberry (Josh), Ron Miller (Yessi), Michelle Miller, Ramey Miller (Chris), Sheri Courier (Justin), Jeremy Butler (Megan), Sarah Gentry (Mike), Elizabeth Ruge (Al) and Jordan Wheeler (Nate); and 21 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter-in-law, Deb Miller; brothers, Thomas W. Miller, Rex Miller and Jack Miller, Jr. in infancy; sister, Lorraine Miller; and great granddaughter, Alexis Miller.