Jackson Miller

Jackson Lee "Jack" Miller, 82, and longtime Zena-Dennis area resident passed away July 25, 2008 at the Circle of Life Hospice Center in Springdale, Arkansas following a short illness. He was born September 11, 1925 in Delaware County, Oklahoma to Robert Lee and Susie Hilderbrand Miller. Jack was a member of the Cherokee Nation and a direct descendent of Peter Hilderbrand who led a removal party to Indian territory from Georgia in 1839. He was raised in the Dennis area by his father and grandmother Hilderbrand following the death of his mother in 1928. Jack attended elementary school at Oakgrove and Wyandotte Indian School receiving the American Legion Honor Award. He attended high school at Chilocco Indian School in northern Oklahoma and while there was a state Golden Glove boxing champion. Following graduation in 1943, Jack enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served on a B-24 as an aerial gunner. He received citations for good conduct, and participation in European and African campaigns, and Middle East Service. Following his discharge, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served for one year in Alaska. Jack attended Oklahoma A&M for two years and later completed his B.S. degree from Northeastern State College in Tahlequah. He taught briefly at Oak Grove School in Delaware County before leaving that profession to become a welder with local 73 in Oswego, New York. He also did welding throughout the eastern U.S., Florida and Canada. He returned to the family farm land near Dennis where he established a home, farmed and raised livestock. Jack joined the Delaware County Historical Society where he served as president. He also enjoyed history, reading and traveling. Jack was a member of the Lake Center Baptist church on Monkey, Island. He married Ruth Albertson in Haddonfield, New Jersey. She preceded him in death in 1995. He was also preceded in death by both parents, and two brothers, John Avery Miller and James Andrew Miller on July 23, 2008. Survivors include a sister, Lucille Ahniwake Fleming of Adelphi, Maryland and her children, Susie and husband Bobby Harjo, Frank Fleming, Lee Fleming and Joe Lindsey Fleming, Jr.; Tierra Rose Miller, daughter of Jim Miller; half-sisters, Martha Ann Hampton of Chelsea and Quannah Miller of Sapulpa; and half-brother, Thomas Gann Miller of Chelsea. Funeral Services for Jackson Lee "Jack' Miller will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, 2008 at the Lake Center Baptist Church on Monkey Island, with Reverend Kim Hays officiating. Pallbearers will be nephews, Frank, Lee and Joe Lindsey Fleming , Jr., cousins, Larry Anderson, Chuck Hall and Joel McGough, friends, Clinton Creason , Tim Caswell, George Whitten and Albert Gilstrap. Interment will follow at Hilderbrand Family Cemetery near Zena. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home in Grove on Friday, August 1. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be to Lake Center Baptist Church Youth Fund, Delaware or Monkey Island Historical Societies, Jay, Oklahoma or Circle of Life Hospice, Springdale, Arkansas. Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home of Grove, Oklahoma is in charge of arrangements.

Service Details

Saturday, August 2nd, 2008 2:00pm, Lake Center Baptist Church

Interment Details

Hilderbrand Cemetery