Jay W. Miller

Long-time resident and supporter of the La Junta community, Jay W. Miller, 90, passed on Wednesday, November 2, 2011.  Memorial service will be held at St. Andrews Episcopal Church at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 18, 2011.                                
Jay was born in Burkburnett, Texas on November 17, 1920 to John W. and Annie Laura Miller.  He was raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he attended schools and met his future wife, Barbara Chandler.  Jay and Barbara were married in St. Francis, Kansas on December 4, 1939.
Before moving to La Junta, Jay worked as a teller for Poudre Valley Bank in Fort Collins.  He and Barbara moved to La Junta in December of 1941.  Jay served in WWII from August of 1943 to November of 1948, as a gunner and also completed pilot training.
Jay worked as a teller, cashier, and loan officer and eventually became executive vice president of Colorado Bank and Trust during his 43 years of employment from 1941 to 1983 with the bank.  In 1984, Jay became senior vice president and loan officer at Ark Valley Industrial Bank.
Mr. Miller has always been an active La Juntan.  He has been a member of St. Andrew Episcopal Church since coming to La Junta, where he was on the Vestry and was both a junior and senior Warden.  He was a caretaker of the church until recently.  Jay was a member and served as president of the La Junta Tiger Quarterback club.  He served on the Colorado Boys Ranch Board from 1977 to 1983 and also was Board treasurer for his last five years on the board.  Jay served 25 years as treasurer of the Nine Mile Canal Co. out of Higbee.  He was a Rotarian for many years and President of the club from 1961-62.  He served on the La Junta Hospital Building Authority Board and was a founding member of La Junta’s Junior Chamber of Commerce and also a member of the Senior Chamber of Commerce. Jay also served as a member and chairman of the Urban Renewal Board of Commissioners from 1966 to 1986.
During his years of service to the community, Mr. Miller received numerous awards including a Community Service Award in 1978 “for outstanding contributions to La Junta’s community progress” by the La Junta Chamber of Commerce and the Everett O. Marshall Award for distinguished service from the Colorado Boys Ranch Board.

Jay was a talented man who was once a portrait painter and jazz musician drummer.  He enjoyed wood working and cabinet making.  He also played tennis and golf in his younger years.
Jay is preceded in death by his parents and his wife of 70 years, Barbara Miller. He is survived by daughter, Patricia Ingels of Fort Collins; sons, Kent (Jefferie) Miller of Colorado Springs; Tom (Vicki) Miller of Castle Rock; grandsons, Scott (Carie) Brumit, Joel (Amy) Miller, Derek Miller; granddaughters, Jill (Daniel) Staley, Randi Miller, Kelli Miller; great grandchildren, Tiffany, Amanda and Jennifer Brumit;  Evie and Solomon Staley; also survived by his brother, Lafi (Juliana) Miller of Fort Collins; and his sister, Jennie Sue Toliver of California; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be sent to St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 801 San Juan Avenue, La Junta, CO 81050 or to Colorado Boys Ranch (CBR Youth Connect) P.O. Box 681, La Junta, CO 81050 direct or through the funeral home.