Clyde was one of twins born to Reuben E. and Myrtle G. (Pellett) Miller on the family farmstead in Baird, Washington (near the Mt. View School in Douglas County) on December 11, 1913. The newborn’s aunt often talked about Mrs. Miller having to stay in bed with the twins to keep them warm that cold December and how the dish cloth froze to the kitchen table while clearing the breakfast dishes.
The Miller family later moved to a farm in the Red Rock School District where Clyde remembers the twins’ first chores were to carry water, wood and coal into the house. Clyde’s first big job on the farm was driving six horses pulling a harrow when he was 12 years old. Walking behind that harrow sprouted a lifelong passion and occupation as a wheat farmer. Only twice did Clyde work off the family farm, both times in apple harvests in the Wenatchee Valley
Clyde graduated from Coulee City High School in 1931. He later attended and was graduated from the Anderson Diesel School in Los Angeles, California, in 1937.
By the late thirties, the Miller family had moved their wheat farming operation to the St. Andrew’s area of Douglas County. The family also took in a boarder - the new school teacher at the nearby Gilbert School. Josephine Curtis was a recent graduate of Western Normal School (Western Washington University). A courtship blossomed and bloomed into a 65-year marriage and partnership on their own nearby farm in the St. Andrews area.
In addition to helping raise three sons, Clyde held numerous positions with many community organizations. A seventh-degree member of the Grange, Clyde served as master of the St. Andrews and Douglas County Pomona Granges. He was later appointed Deputy State Master for Douglas County of the Washington State Grange. He was an officer of both the Douglas County and Washington Association of Wheat Growers. For many years, Clyde served as an elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Coulee City, where he has been a member for over 50 years.
Clyde was preceded in death by his wife Jo (2007), his son Jim (1997) his two brothers, (twin Claude F. and younger brother Frank) both of Coulee City, and two older sisters, (Mamie (Miller) of Baird, and Nellie Buob of Fairfield, Washington).
He is survived by two sons, William G. (Selma) of Wenatchee, and Stephen C. (Carole) of Reno, NV, five grandchildren, (Mark Miller of Tacoma, Shannon Meza of Wenatchee, Stacie Ferrari of Lake Stevens, Wendy Black of Spokane, and Adam Geer of Caldwell, Idaho) and seven great- grandchildren, (Sydney Meza, Dylan Black, Connor Meza, Elissa Black, Madison Miller, Matthew Miller, and Isabella Ferrari).
Visitation will be from 3-7 p.m., Tuesday, February 14th at Jones & Jones Betts in Wenatchee.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 15th at the First Presbyterian Church, 214 N. 4th Street in Coulee City.
Memorials may be made in Clyde’s name to the Coulee City Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, or Celebration Lutheran Church Building Fund, 801 8th Street NE, East Wenatchee, WA 98802.
The family is extremely grateful and humbled by the care provided by the staff of the Assisted Living Unit at Colonial Vista in Wenatchee. We would especially like to thank Pam for the loving care, concern and compassion she provided to our Dad, Grandpa, and Great Grandpa during his time at Colonial Vista.
Arrangements are by Jones and Jones-Betts Funeral Home. Please express your thoughts and memories for the family at http://www.jonesjonesbetts.com/
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