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Maynard V. Miller, age 87, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, September 1, 2023 at his Mendon home surrounded by his family. He will be remembered for being a loving husband, father, and grandfather who could always be relied upon to help out and could bring smiles with his sense of humor. Born to the late Glenn Arthur and Dora (Benedict) Miller on February 14, 1936 in Hastings, Michigan he was the 16th of 17 children. His family moved to Hale, Michigan when Maynard was a child. There he attended Hale Area Schools and learned to hunt, fish, and break and ride horses on the family ranch where he also helped with the family logging and sawmill business.
Maynard enlisted in the Army in 1956 and was stationed in South Korea at the DMZ. He was honorably discharged as a Private First Class in 1958 then briefly served in the National Guard. He was married to Phyllis Ann Isaacs on October 25, 1958 in Kokomo, Indiana. Maynard worked as district manager for Moore’s Hardware and he and his family relocated throughout Indiana for his work until 1964. Then Maynard decided to move his growing family to his childhood home of Hale. There he bought his father’s land where he raised and started a dairy farm along with being a beloved bus driver for Hale Schools. Maynard owned and operated the dairy until 1977 upon deciding to move his family to Mendon, so he could work as a driver for the Constantine Creamery. Leaving that, and later carpentry work, Maynard decided to form a small business in 1979, Miller’s Carpet Cleaning which served the residential and industrial community of southwest Michigan. He and his wife ran the business until they retired completely in 2020.
In addition to his parents, Maynard was preceded in death by nine brothers and six sisters; Eleanor, Dale, Forest, Milbourne, Royal, Glendora, Marion, Nile, Thelma, Eldon, Gordon, Wendell, Wilma, Vernon, and Lois.
Surviving are his wife of nearly 65 years, Phyllis Ann; brother, Merwyn Miller of Bellevue, Michigan; seven children, Linda (Jeff) Easton of Elkhart; Rick Miller of Middlebury; Jerry (Deb) Miller of Mendon, Julie (Dave) Ellison of Three Rivers, Shari (Jeff) Clark of Mendon, Chris (Mary Jo) Miller of Three Rivers, and Megan (Jeff) Muldoon of Holland; eighteen grandchildren; thirty two great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; and uncle to dozens of nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 11 am until 2 pm Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at the Eickhoff Funeral Home in Mendon. Funeral services will begin at 2 pm Wednesday at the funeral home with Rev. Jim Riley officiating. Military interment will follow in Mendon Cemetery. It is suggested that memorial donations be made to either the Wounded Warrior’s Project, or to Tunnels to Towers. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.eickhofffuneralhome.com
