James R. Miller

James R. (Jim) Miller, II, of Ruidoso, NM, passed away peacefully with his devoted family at his side, on April 10, 2012. Jim was a loving husband to his wife, Cheryl and a wonderful father to his three children; Jimbo, Trish, and Madi.

Jim was born September 20, 1950, in Portales, N.M and lived his early years in Carlsbad prior to his family moving to Midland, Texas in 1957. It was in Midland where Jim completed his elementary and junior high school education prior to graduating from Robert E. Lee High School in May of 1968. Jim was one of a special group of people that had spent virtually all of their school years together and all of these friends are saddened to see him move on at such an early age. While at Lee High School, Jim excelled at track and football. He was a member of the 1967 Midland Lee team known as the "Dirty Thirty" that produced the first winning season for Lee. As a result of his success on the football field, Jim was awarded a football scholarship to Division I Rice University in Houston, Texas.

After college Jim moved to the family ranch outside of White's City, NM where he assisted in the daily operations of cattle ranching, animal husbandry, farming, and fisheries, in the shadow of the Guadalupe Mountains.

Later in his life, Jim dedicated his time to mentoring and fostering at-risk children. He acted as Board Chairman of the NM Child Abuse and Neglect Citizen Review Board, Lincoln County, and worked as a Treatment Foster Care Parent for Family Pride Foundation and Mesilla Valley Hospital Outpatient Services until the time of his death.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents J.W. and Patricia Miller; grandparents, J.R. and Gertrude Miller; an uncle, Forrest Miller; two wonderful aunts, Loredo McKinney and Evelyn Dorothy Miller and his nephew, Tony R. Conley, Jr.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl of the home in Ruidoso, NM; a son, James Robert Miller, III of Ruidoso; two daughters, Patricia Evelyn-Elaine Miller of Cloudcroft, NM and Madison Lillian-Grace Miller of the home; a brother, John W. Miller of Madison, Wisconsin; two sisters, Patricia Ann Conley of White's City and Ann Elizabeth Miller of Dallas, Texas, and many cherished cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and numerous life-long friends who loved him dearly.

He will always be remembered for his quick wit and bold laugh. He had a tremendous intellect and a kind and gentle spirit. His grand and caring presence will always be missed.
A Memorial in his honor will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, 2012, at the Washington
Ranch Headquarters, 18 Rattlesnake Springs Road, located 5 miles South of White's City, NM.

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