Jim Miller

James Clayton “Jim” Miller, 87, passed away surrounded by fourteen loving family members on Monday, June 19, 2023, at OU Medical Center after suffering a stroke earlier that morning. Jim had spent the previous day, Father’s Day, on the front porch sitting in the sun, drinking ice tea, and shooting the breeze with his sons, Brent Miller and Ari Benderly. It was perfect weather and Jim was in the highest of spirits.

A lifelong Norman resident and well-known bicycle business and commercial property owner, Jim equipped generations of Norman kids and adults with their bicycles and other sports gear. Working the room and making friends wherever he went, people that met Jim experienced his generosity and his irrepressibly outgoing personality. Jim was always quick with a joke and, “never met a stranger.”

Jim was born December 24, 1935 in Capitol Hill, Oklahoma City to Nadine Melton “Dean” Miller and Bernace Clayton “B.C.” Miller. He was their only child. The family moved to Norman a few years later. Jim was a jovial and mischievous child who had a penchant for pranks and practical jokes. As a teen, Jim was popular, played football, and was known to carry twenty dollar bills for twenty dollar bets–at a time when a cup of coffee was a nickel.

Jim attended grade school at Norman’s Lincoln School and then Norman Junior High. In these early years, and from the age of 8, Jim began working with his dad, B.C. Miller. He learned to fix anything mechanical and work on small engines. They rented and sold bicycles, lawnmowers, and motorcycles, first on Crawford Avenue, and on Porter Avenue, then on Campus Corner. Jim’s father was a hard worker and taught Jim the value of work, working hard, and how to sell. Jim used the skills he learned from his father throughout his life and continued to build, weld and otherwise fashion all things mechanical well into his retirement.

Jim graduated from Norman High School in 1954. After high school he continued working for his father and attended the University of Oklahoma. B.C. encouraged Jim to take various trade and sales courses outside the University. Most significant to Jim’s personality and development was the Dale Carnigie course, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” Jim credited the course for his ability to sell, and his general success with people. After the first day of the course, Jim could remember and recite the names of 50 new people in order. Jim continued working for his father until around 1979 when he bought the bicycle store from him.

In 1957, Jim married Barbara Jo Marsee and together they moved to an acreage on the east side of Norman. It was during this period that Jim and Barbara Jo were blessed with their first son, Mitchell Mark Miller. Later Jim and Barbara Jo moved into town where they were blessed with their second son, Brent Clay Miller. While still working with his dad, Jim and Barbara Jo together ran the O.K. Corral restaurant. Jim and Barbara Jo divorced in 1975.

In 1977, Jim renewed an old acquaintance and began dating his highschool sweetheart, Deanna Burger. Jim and Deanna first met at age 11. They dated through high school and kept in touch through the years. Each finding themselves divorced in the late 1970s, a new relationship blossomed. They were married in 1984. Deanna brought two children to their marriage, Danielle Benderly and Ari Benderly, who Jim raised as his own children.

During the first year of their marriage, Deanna, a graduate of the The University of Oklahoma College of Law who, at the time, was an attorney for the Oklahoma Securities Commission, left her practice of law and began working aside Jim at Miller’s Bicycles on Boyd Street. As partners, they grew the bicycle business with Jim fronting sales and Deanna in charge of the back office. In 1993, they opened a second retail location at 3350 West Main Street. The large two level store became their flagship. Rebranding the two locations, “Miller’s Bicycles and Fitness,” they expanded the company’s product assortment with a wide variety of recreational and gym equipment.

Jim worked hard and played hard. A lifelong passion with boating and recreation on Oklahoma’s lakes always kept Jim in and around the water. Jim and his family spent many years boating, water skiing and otherwise having fun on lakes Arbuckle, Texoma, Thunderbird and others. Jim loved his boats, and you could find him on warm summer days motoring around on “Big Red”, “Miller Time”, or “Lady D”.

Jim is survived by his wife of 39 years, Deanna Burger, his children Mitchell Mark Miller, Brent Clay Miller and wife Erika of Norman, Danielle Benderly and husband Ken of Portland, Oregon, Ari Benderly and wife Heidi of San Francisco, California, Amy Barton Woodie and husband J.J. of Moore, Analisa Campbell and husband Bruce of Piedmont. His grandchildren Isaac Miller and wife Emily Finney-Miller of Muskogee, Hannah-Ruth Miller of Richmond, California, Zane Miller and girlfriend Lexi Hahn of Newcastle, Mya Miller of Moore, and Alexandra Benderly of Portland, Oregon. Jim is also survived by his first cousin Shirley Cox Vanderburg Womack, and many, many second cousins. Jim was predeceased by his parents Nadine Melton “Dean” Miller and Bernace Clayton “B.C.” Miller.

The family would like to thank Sooner Station and their staff in Norman for their kindness and respite support of Jim while his wife was away for medical treatment. The family is also deeply grateful to Jim’s long-time family doctor, Rene Ballard.