Austel James "Jack" Miller Jr.

Austel “Jack” James Miller Jr., 76, of Kentuck, WV went home to be with the Lord after a short illness.

Jack was born May 20, 1948 at Charleston, WV a son of the late Austel Sr. and Faye N. (Siders) Miller.

Jack was quite the adventurous fellow, occasionally moving to satisfy his thrill for new experiences. He loved The Lord and enjoyed volunteering at the Schoenbaum Family Enrichment Center where he would help his friend, Katie, prepare meals for the daycare children. Being incredibly creative, he designed and built sets and props for January Wolfe at Academy of Arts at January’s. An artist, alongside his late wife, Mary Krista Linderman, Jack taught life drawing classes, summer art camps, appeared in local shows and galleries, and sold many original works locally and abroad. Jack also loved to tinker, listen to jazz music and tend his garden. Jack was a masterful storyteller often sharing tales from his exuberant youth to his days working on a Florida cattle ranch, wrestling with gators and catering glamorous parties. Jack was a 1966 graduate of Sissonville High School and attended church at the Charleston Boulevard Seventh Day Adventist Church and the Ripley Seventh-Day Adventist Church. He will be greatly missed.

Jack is survived by former spouse Eva (Breedlove) Miller with whom he had two children Lorilea B. Miller Brumley, who preceded him in ddeath andAustel “A.J.” Miller III (Angelica) of Kanawha County; siblings Deloris C. McLane of Kenna, Sherry E. Hurst (Brian) of Florida; children from his second marriage, Lori L. Sapp (Jonathan) of North Carolina, Holly L. Gray (Carter) of Winfield, Mary L. Breeden (Warren Sean) of Florida and Dawn A. Shamblin of Charleston; grandchildren Jonathan K. Miller (Kayla) of Charleston, Matthew D. Miller of Jackson County, Kirstine C. Miller of North Carolina, Thomas D. Brumley of Georgia, Lorilynn “Jordan” J. Miller of Florida, Christopher S. Carter of Charleston and a great-grandchild Willow Miller of Charleston. The family would like to extend a special thank you to a lifelong friend of Jack and the family, Anita Jordan.

In addition to his parents Austel Sr. and Faye and daughter, Lorilea, Jack was preceded in death by his wife of 18 years Mary Krista Linderman and a nephew James R.M. Robinson.

A small graveside memorial service will be held a date to be announced later. In lieu of flowers the family ask you to Pay It Forward in Jack’s memory by donating to a local children’s charity, Backpack Buddies, or local school snack program. Online memories and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.waybrightfuneralhome.com