Charles Ray “Chuck” Miller, he was 85 and went home to be with the Lord on Monday, September 14, 2020. He was born on July 17, 1935, in Portageville, Missouri, to Harvey “Steven” Miller and Ada Justine Myers Miller. Dad also had an older sister, Lily Miller. Tragedy struck early in his life when a drunk driver struck and killed Steve Miller when Dad was only a few months old.
But fortunately, Grandma married an incredibly good and kind man named Arthur Simmons who treated Dad like his own son. Together they had 5 more sons, Ivan, Glen, Gene, Donnie and Wayne. They did have 1 daughter, Virginia Lee, but she died as an infant. Arthur Simmons also brought 3 sons, Fred, Tommy, and Walter along with a daughter Beulah Marie.
The family formed a very strong foundation as well as a support system to Dad and influenced him throughout his life. These were truly the ties that bind and endure even to this day for this blended family.
The growing family moved from Missouri to Indiana, but Dad never forgot his early years in Missouri and frequently visited Portageville.
Dad was an avid hunter early in his life. He also enjoyed fishing and really any kind of water activity.
Dad joined the Marines at a young age, he went to boot camp in San Diego and was also stationed in Okinawa. He was deployed to fight in the Korean War; however this was towards the very end of the war.
He married Marie Bonee on October 15, 1958, in Portageville, Missouri. They had five children during their marriage, Donna, Steve, Charlie, Chris, and Joanna. Mom and Dad divorced in the late 70’s and Dad remarried Johnnie Berry. They were married until her death.
Dad is survived by his brothers, Donnie and Wayne Simmons, as well as his 5 children and 2 stepchildren as well as 15 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
