January 26, 1945 - April 17, 2001

James Gardner Miller III, was born on January 26, 1945 in Kenosha, WI and grew up in Zion, IL where he was active in school, played football and clarinet, and was the senior homecoming king. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Design in 1968 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He served in the United States Army from 1968 to 1970. Jim was general manager of Vetter Fairing Company, in Rantoul, IL from 1970-1978. He then distributed hot tubs for California Cooperage, worked again for Craig Vetter designing wheel chairs in SLO, was employed as a cooperative employment coordinator for Cal Poly, worked for Del Industries, then fulfilled his boyhood dream by driving a long-haul truck for a year with Southwest Motor Freight. In the last years of his life he was a general consultant, entrepreneur, and aspiring writer. He was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran Church at St. Philip's Lutheran Church in Carmel where he lived most recently before returning to San Luis Obispo in September 2000.

Jim is survived by: his wife, Rotraut Cannon-Miller; daughter, Heather Lee Miller of Columbus, Ohio; parents James Gardener Miller, Jr. and Violet Miller of Sun City West, Arizona; sister Judy Murphy of Cave Creek, Arizona, brother Ed Miller of Winthrop Harbor, IL; stepson Andrew Annon and his wife Judy and daughter Reily of Santa Rose, CA' stepson James Cannon and his wife Yamileth and daughter Carmen of Rohnert Park, CA; and countless other family and friends.

Jim was a loving husband, son, and father, as well as a wonderful friend. He was much loved and will be missed. He touched us all in special ways.