GORDON LEE MILLER

Gordon Lee Miller, age 70, a resident of rural Redfield, passed into eternal life at his home in the company of his wife, Tilli, on Tuesday, January 17, 2007 following a lengthy cancer illness. He was born in Marysville, on August 28,1936, the son of Clarence L. Miller and Lafie A. Cherrie Miller. He moved with his family to Topeka, at the age of five and was a resident of the Topeka area for many years. He married Carolyn Kemahan in 1957. They were later divorced. He and Leola M. "Tilli" Welch were married in Littlefield, Texas, February 5,1993. Following his retirement, he and his wife moved to rural Redfield, Kansas, where he resided until his death.

Gordon was a forty year member of the Ironworkers Local No. 10 of Kansas City, Missouri beginning his life-long career at age seventeen. He worked for Costelow Co, Inc. and was involved in the construction of microwave, radio and television communication towers throughout the Midwest and western states. He also worked in the construction of West Ridge Mall, Jeffries Power House and the Goodyear plant in Topeka, among other projects. Following his retirement from the iron working industry, he was employed as the caretaker of Gunn Park in Fort Scott, Kansas. He had also performed seasonal mowing for Bourbon County.

He is survived by his wife, Tilli, of the home; a son Mitchell L. Miller, Carbondale; a step-daughter, Trisa D. Bolden, Fort Scott, and her children. Tiffany Hoeg, Blake Bolden and Candace Dietrich and husband Aaron; three step-sons, Steven R. Mason and wife, Kendell, Fort Scott, Kansas, and their children Alex Mason and Ashton Mason, Kenneth M. '"Mike'' Mason, and wife, Jennifer, Uniontown, and their children, Zachary Mason, Jordan Mason and Paige Mason; and Mitchell D. (Mason) Welch, Fort Scott, and his children, Jacob Welch and Morgan Welch. He also leaves his beloved pets. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Clarence L, Miller, George Miller and Frank Miller, and a sister, Cherrie McCulley.

The Rev. Jared Witt will conduct funeral services at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007, at the Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.

Memorials are suggested to the Southeast Kansas Humane Society and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at cheneywittcondolence@cpol.net.