Vernon Roderick Miller was born January 24, 1942 in Colorado Springs.  He was the son of Viola and Lewis Miller. He moved to St. Joseph, MO, when he was four years old and was raised by his grandparents, Vernon and Mildred Butler.  He married (1st) Doris Newton and had two children: Jeff Miller (Terrie) of Forbes, MO, and Karan Miller-Flynn (Steve) of Pearland, TX.  He married (2nd) Karen "Lea" Miller in 1985.  She survives him of the home.  He helped raise his two step children, Drew Benefield and Amanda Benefield of St. Jospeh.

Vernon was an avid sports fan and as a youth had led his baseball and football teams to many victories.

He served in the Missouri Air National Guard from 1960 to 1968.

For 21 years, Vernon was the Manager of the Boehringer Ingelheim branch in Dallas, Texas, returning to St. Joseph in 1988 and retiring in 2004.

Vernon was always full of love and laughter.  Anyone who knew him, respected him as a sincere man of kindness and integrity.  What he valued the most was his family and friends.  His innate sense of love was infectious to everyone around him.

He was proceeded in death by a sister, Donna Miller.   Besides his wife and children, he is survived by his brother, Richard Miller (Patty) and his sister, Sandra Filmer (Glenn), nieces and nephews, and four  grandchildren – Ethan & Kassidy Miller and Corey & Casey McLaughlin.

He passed away peacefully at home on Friday, January 19, 2024.