Jimmy Dale Miller

Jimmy Dale Miller, 76, passed away on February 4, 2025, in Ardmore, Oklahoma. He was born in Tishomingo on November 9, 1948, to Bill and Delphine (Shackleford) Miller. Jim attended Mill Creek High School before serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, where he was responsible for the recovery and cleanup of military crash sites. After his military service, he began working in civil service at Tinker Air Force Base while earning a master’s degree in aerospace logistics from Oklahoma State University. As a safety logistics specialist for the AWACS intelligence aircraft, Jim worked as a U.S. Air Force liaison and consultant to NATO, the Royal Saudi Air Force, and other foreign governments. His career took him across the world, having lived in Belgium, Thailand, Greece, and Saudi Arabia, as well as traveling to many other countries. After years overseas, Jim returned to Oklahoma to finish his career at Tinker Air Force Base, where he served for over 30 years before retiring and moving home to Reagan in 2013 to be near his family. He loved to talk, play dominoes, read western novels, and feed any dog that wandered up. He enjoyed attending church at the Church of Christ in Tishomingo and had a sharp wit, always making jokes. He spent much of his time riding his golf cart around, "supervising" the neighborhood. Ever a civil servant, he made it his daily mission to deliver everyone’s mail from the mailbox to their front door, no matter the weather. During the pandemic, Jim entertained his family by writing a weekly newsletter detailing the latest happenings, from the fullness of the trash dumpster to the antics of the farm animals, the appearance of local eagles, and updates on his great-nephew Jax’s fishing luck—or lack thereof. His stories brought much laughter during uncertain times. In 2023, Jim moved to the VA Center in Sulphur, where he made many friends and enjoyed socializing. He never met a stranger and had an incredible memory for names. Always generous, he often contributed to fellow veterans' commissaries and donated anonymously to local veteran organizations. Jim was a kind and selfless man who cherished his family and will be deeply missed. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Delphine Miller, and his niece, Wrennie Haney. He leaves behind his brother, Gary Miller of Reagan, and his sister, Val Dene Bailey and her husband Bruce, also of Reagan. He is also survived by his stepdaughter, Shaunna of Oklahoma City; nephews, Chuck Bardin and wife Cindy of Oklahoma City and Corey Miller and wife Carla of Reagan; niece, Lindsey Hays and husband Trey of Reagan; great-nephews, Thomas Haney and wife Ashley, Quade Hays and wife Mary, and Jax Hays; great-niece, Dakotah Haney; and great-great-nieces and nephews, Brody Haney, Ava Knighten, and Haylee Knighten, along with numerous other family members and friends. A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Troy Cemetery, with Keith Shackleford and Stuart Bailey officiating. Military honors will be provided by the United States Air Force. Serving as pallbearers will be Thomas Haney, Quade Hays, Jax Hays, Trey Hays, Corey Miller, and Lindsey Hays, with Chuck Bardin and Dakotah Haney serving as honorary pallbearers.

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Jimmy Dale Miller

November 9, 1948 - February 4, 2025