With family by his side, Mark Henry Miller, Emmett, Idaho, was welcomed to the heavenly gates on March 14, 2012. He was born on June 30, 1927, to Newton Henry and Ruby Miller in Ottawa, Kan.
In an effort to improve life for his family, Newton moved to the Central Valley of California in the mid 1930s, settling in Hughson. Mark went to school in the area, moving to Visalia, Calif., in the early 1940s. There, at an end-of-summer barbecue in a dry creek he met the love of his life, Bernice Gott. In her words, “He was the cutest man around and drove the nicest car.”
He sold his car to buy Bernice wedding rings and they married on Feb. 16, 1946. She was still in high school, graduating that spring as Bernice (Gott) Miller, which embarrassed her when her name was called.
Before he was married, Mark joined the U.S. Marine Corps for the duration of World War II. Stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif., he was deployed to the Pacific Conflict, but the boat he was on was called back. The war was over.
Mark and Bernice settled in Visalia, eventually building a brick house on Jacob Street. Their first daughter, Janet, was born there. After moving to Glendale, Calif., to open a bakery, their second daughter, Diana, was born.
When the bakery closed in 1956, they moved to a brand new home in La Mirada, Calif. Here, Mark developed his woodworking and building skills, adding onto the home. Using walnut, his favorite wood, he made several household pieces and cabinetry.
Working on cars developed into another hobby when he purchased a 1936 Cord. With the help of a neighbor boy, Jim, they turned the car into a head-turner. This brought the two men very close together and Mark gained the son he didn’t have. For the rest of his life, Jim called Mark and Bernice Dad and Mom.
Mark made friends with all he met and helped everyone in every way he could. He was a kind-hearted soul who tried very hard to please those in his life. His gentle nature and sense of humor endeared him to all.
On their 25th wedding anniversary, Mark and Bernice bought their retirement dream property in the Sierra Nevada foothills. For the next several years, every long weekend and vacation took them to the property adding fencing, grading the driveway and building a brick barn and garden house.
Alas, Bernice died in 1981 before the home was built. Mark moved there soon after and built a second brick home, enhancing the natural creek into several waterfalls and ponds. Family and friends helped in all these projects. Landscaping included the use of hundreds or railroad ties, earning him the title “Railroad Tie King.” Here, Mark added to his wood working tools, eventually filling a three-car garage. The home is filled with beautiful wood trim he made.
In 2009, Mark moved to Emmett to be near his daughter. He bought a home there and walked everywhere in the town.
However, Mark was getting tired. “I’ve lived a good life,” he would say.
He was finally able to rest and join Bernice in heaven; as well as his son, Jim Nerell; grandson, Paul Miller; and older sister, Connie Norton.
Mark is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Janet and Bill Monti, Emmett and Diana and Steve White, Visalia; and their children and spouses, Christina Biro, William Mark Monti III and Veronica and Andy Knutson and Katherine and Eric Broyles, Brian and Annette Schwabl, Shilo White, Matthew and Natalie White and Michelle White. He has 10 great-grandchildren and two more on the way; three great-great-grandchildren; as well as many other children who knew and loved him as “Grandpa.” He is also survived by his brother-in-law, Gene Norton; numerous nieces and nephews in the Visalia area; and many family and friends whose lives were enriched for knowing Mark.
A viewing in Emmett was held on March 19, 2012, under the direction of the Potter Funeral Chapel.
Local arrangements are with Miller’s Memorial Chapel, Visalia. A viewing will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 22, 2012, at the chapel. Services will be held at the chapel at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 23, 2012, with burial following at Visalia Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mark’s name may be made to a program in your community that deals with books or feeding people.
Daddy, we are happy knowing you are next to Moma, holding her hand for eternity. Rest well.
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