(Apr. 19, 2007)
Funeral services will be conducted today (Tuesday, April 24) at 10 a.m. at the LDS Church on Seventh Street for long-time Powell resident Clay Eugene Miller, 65, who died Thursday, April 19 at Powell Valley Hospital of an apparent heart attack. His loving wife, Dianne, was at his side.
Clay was born Oct. 28, 1941, to Carl and Gwendolyn Sessions Miller in Oakland, Calif. He attended school in Powell, graduating from Powell High School in 1959.
He farmed with his father as a young man, but Clay’s entrepreneurial spirit manifested itself early when at age 15 he purchased his own swather and began contracting with local farmers to help with the harvest. After graduation, Clay worked for Mountain States Telephone Company until 1961 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany with the 30th Medical Group providing communications.
He was honorably discharged, returned home and married Stanlee Jameson on April 16, 1965. This union was blessed with three sons, Chad, Darren, and Ryan. His children were the joy of his life, and he loved nothing more than supporting them and enjoyed their growth and successes.
Clay was a Master Electrician, and in 1977 he started Clay’s Electrical Service (Prime Power and Communications) in Powell. Through his business he provided employment opportunities to many and electrical services to individuals, oil companies, and power companies throughout Wyoming and Montana. He had several other successful business ventures for which he was once named Entrepreneur of the Year by the Powell Valley Chamber of Commerce. Until his death, he served on the board of directors of both Garland Light and Power and Tri-State Generation and Transmission.
Clay was married and sealed to Dianne Grant Reel on June 24, 1989, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they loved to travel, be outdoors, spend time with family, and attend sporting and other events for their grandchildren, sometimes traveling great distances to do so. His little Maltese dog, Billy, held a special place in his heart and went wherever Clay did. He loved camping, appreciated the beauties of nature, and he and Dianne were always up for a new adventure.
He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He served in various positions in the church over the years. Clay and Dianne particularly enjoyed their time spent in service at the Billings, Montana Temple. He taught his children and all who knew him the principles of generosity and service. He was always helping someone and was one of the most generous of men.
He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Dianne Grant Miller; his mother, Gwen Miller of Powell; sons, Chad (Amy) Miller of Fruit Heights, Utah, Darren (Kristan) Miller of Frisco, Texas, Ryan (Tiffany) Miller of Layton, Utah, and Brett (Janice) Reel of Claremore, Okla.; a daughter, Renee (Tony) Humphries of Powell; and 16 grandchildren. Also surviving are his siblings, Carleen (Dick) Kattenhorn of Lafayette, Colo., Rick (Dorothy) Miller of Littleton, Colo., Pearl (Keith) Lewis of Orem, Utah, and Myrna (Todd) Welch of Colorado Springs, Colo.
He was preceded in death by his father, Carl Eugene Miller, and granddaughter, Katelyn Ann Miller.
Burial will be in Crown Hill Cemetery in Powell. Haskell Funeral Home of Lovell is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions can be made to the Clay Miller Electrical Apprenticeship Scholarship at the Northwest College Foundation, 231 West Sixth Street, Powell, WY, 82435.