Caesar "CJ" Joseph Michael Miles

CJ was born in Hempstead, Long Island, New York, to Caesar and Rosemary Miles. The family moved to South Bend, Indiana, where from a young age he worked in the family business, an aircraft instrument repair shop started by his father. He displayed mechanical aptitude, even as a youth of 16, taking apart the automatic shift engine from his ‘65 Impala and rebuilding it as a manual shift. His love for flying and mechanical abilities gave him the foundation, knowledge, and expertise for a successful career in the aerospace industry.

CJ loved a great adventure, and one of those was riding motorcycles to Colorado and back to Indiana with his buddy, Mark, stopping to help firefighters during a major forest fire. As a young man, he and his friends had a tradition of picking the coldest day of the year to go camping in the snow. He was an avid outdoorsman, accomplished in hunting, archery, and fly fishing, and loved hiking, canoeing, and camping in the wild. CJ came to life when he was on adventures in the mountains, lakes, and woods of Montana with his brother, Rick. He felt the presence of God when he was in the great outdoors or watching a sunset. CJ had a love for horses and became a certified farrier after attending Montana State University’s Farrier School, opening a farrier practice in North Carolina for several years.

Spanning his career with industry giants, Bendix Aerospace, Allied-Signal (Honeywell), and GE Aviation, CJ traveled all over the world. He became a rare Designated Manufacturing Inspection Representative (DMIR) of the Federal Aviation Administration. He was Certified as a Quality Auditor and Quality Engineer by the American Society for Quality, as well as receiving recognition from leading aerospace companies, and was regarded as a highly respected industry expert, trusted colleague, and mentor. CJ graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Family was important to CJ since all his brothers and sisters lived so far away from each other. He looked forward to meeting family members in South Bend to cheer on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and especially enjoyed a rare family reunion in Montana. Laughing, reminiscing (“cutting up”), and having fun with family and friends brought CJ great joy; he had the greatest smile and a hearty laugh that made everyone laugh with him. He was beyond intelligent, fun, witty, loving, compassionate, always showing concern for others, and known as someone who would “give you the shirt off his back.” He was artistically talented in drawing, painting, and handwriting. He was meticulous in everything he did. He was simply an outstanding man, a guy you just felt good around.

CJ was a wonderful and devoted father. He loved his daughters so very much and wanted the very best for their lives. They meant the world to him. His daughter, Sienna, wrote this heartfelt remembrance:

Whenever I was with my dad, I felt safe. I felt loved, and I felt like the most important girl in the world. His love knew no bounds. My dad was a once-in-a-lifetime kind of man; a person everyone should have in their lives. He went out of his way to make sure everyone was happy, even going so far to put others' health before his. I could go on and on to him about anything, and he would sit there and listen through the entire thing. He didn’t know how to disappoint people. In fact, he was incapable of doing anything less than 100%. My dad told me he loved me every day, and he reinforced his words with his actions. He was patient, generous, and understanding no matter the time of day. He taught me how to shoot a gun, but he also taught me how to love. Daddy, you will stay forever in my heart, and the rest of our family’s hearts too. We love you.

Rejoicing over CJ in heaven are his parents, Caesar Miles and Rosemary Phillips Miles, and brothers Michael E. Miles, Robert F. Evans, and Joseph D. Evans. Remaining family members include his wife of 19 years, Monika Rowe Miles, and dearly loved daughters Heather Marks (Jason) of Osceola, Indiana, and Sienna-Farryn Miles of Oceanside, California. CJ’s siblings are Robert Miles (RoseMarie) of Salt Point, New York; Bonna Haldenby of Aylmer, Ontario; Richard Babbitt (Margaret “Sam”) of Missoula, Montana; Bonnie Jo Miles of Lagrange, Kentucky; Stephanie Presnal (Gregg) of Sanford, North Carolina, and sister-in-love Rene Evans. CJ has two grandsons and 17 nieces and nephews. He was blessed with countless amazing friends through the years, incredible colleagues, and an endearing family who miss him desperately.

We honor and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ for creating such an incredibly wonderful man, allowing us to share his life, and making a way by His sacrifice for us all to be together once again.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. -- Romans 10:9

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. -- Psalm 34:18

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; . . . I will come back and take you to be with me . . .” -- John 14:1-3

CJ’s family would love to know how much he meant to his friends and colleagues and invites you to post fond memories, fun experiences, and photos at www.sylvanabbey.com that they can enjoy. A video remembrance of CJ’s life is also posted.

Honor CJ by loving your own family, hugging them, and telling them you love them every day. Be kind.

Heartfelt thanks to the Sylvan Abbey staff who were so compassionate, and who tenderly and respectfully cared for our beloved.

Donations in memory may be made to Glacier National Park Conservancy at https://glacier.org/tribute-gifts/ with acknowledgments to Stephanie Presnal, 304 Scenic Drive, Sanford, NC 27330, [email protected].