Willis Ray Miller, Sr.

Willis Ray Miller Sr., age 82, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Monday, April 9, 2018, at his home. He was born on December 18, 1935, in Coffeyville, Kansas. Willis was one of fourteen children born to Sylvan Leroy and Rena Faye (Goodman) Miller. As a young boy his family moved to Garnett. Willis attended Garnett schools. He entered into the US Navy immediately following high school. He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in Korea, aboard the USS Hector. Following his time in the service Willis returned to Garnett, where he married, Glenda Roberts. Their union was blessed with two children. They lived in a number of places due to Willis' work as a sheet metal technician, working on several Naval Air bases. In 1960 they made their home in Garnett with Willis working at the power plant and operating a service station east of town. In 1974 Willis and Glenda divorced. Willis began his career with the postal service as a mail carrier in Garnett. He later worked as a postal inspector in Kansas City before working as the postmaster in Welda and Colony until his retirement. Up to the time of his death, Willis could still recall many addresses. Willis married Sharon (Schillig) Shellhorn on January 5, 1978. They made their home in Garnett until their passing. Willis loved bluegrass music, fishing, repairing old clocks, tinkering on his computer. He was an avid reader, enjoying countless books at one time. Willis was a member of the Holy Angels Catholic Church, Garnett. Willis was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Sharon Miller, on April 24, 2016; and eleven brothers and sisters. He is survived by his daughter, Linda Hernandez of Homewood, Kansas; son, Willis Ray Miller, Jr. of Bucyrus, Kansas; step-daughters, Arlene Whitten and husband, Tom of Eudora, Kansas, Jackie Shellhorn of Lenexa, Kansas, and Brenda Brown and husband, Mark of Mesa, Arizona; eight grandchildren, Eric Kratzberg, Amy Dryer and Ryan Belshe, Willis Ray Miller III and Cody Miller, Michael Whitten, Alex Whitten, and Nicole Whitten; eleven great-grandchildren, Payton and Willis Ray Miller IV, Jasmine, Emma, Lauryn, Iyla and Chett Dryer, Dominick Anaya, Mia Belshe, Rowan Belshe, and Annalynne Bradley. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, April 14, 2018, at Holy Angels Catholic Church, Garnett, Kansas. The family will greet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Friday evening at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, Garnett. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Angels Church, St. Rose School, or Anderson County Hospital Foundation and left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to www.feuerbornfuneral.com