Obituary

James A. “Jim” Miller, age 75, of Warsaw, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at his home.  He was born on January 7, 1949, in Sedalia, Missouri the son of Ruben and Juanita (Brooks) Miller.

He grew up in Warsaw and graduated from Warsaw High School, Class of 1967.  While in high school he exhibited his competitive nature playing baseball and basketball where he was a captain of the basketball team his senior year.

He was united in marriage to Shawn Reser on November 21, 1973 at the First United Methodist Church of Warsaw.  They made their home in Warsaw where unto this union two sons were born.

He began work for his father at his DX service station in the valley. Jim also worked for the Warsaw City Pool as a lifeguard and later manager. Following high school graduation he attended  Central Missouri State College and  graduated mortuary school in the spring of 1973 from  Kentucky School of Mortuary Science in Louisville, Kentucky.  He began his career in funeral service for his father-in-law, John Reser where he became a partner in the Reser Funeral Home.  Jim and Shawn purchased the Fred Davis & Son Funeral Home in Lincoln, Missouri in 1992 and purchased the remainder of the Reser Funeral Home in Warsaw upon John Reser’s retirement.  He served as the Benton County Coroner for 28 years from 1984 - 2012.

He was active in the community, serving in the Jaycees, the Optimist Club, Shawnee Masonic Lodge #653 AF & AM, Benton County Scottish Rite, Kansas City Valley of the Scottish Rite, Ararat Shrine Temple, Ararat Ole Cars, Warsaw Shrine Club and working BINGO.  He also served for many years on the Lincoln Cemetery, Fristoe Cemetery and Shawnee Cemetery Boards and was a member of the First United Methodist Church.  Jim was also a 50 year member of the Missouri Funeral Directors Association and a former board member of the Missouri Funeral Trust.

He was an avid fan of Warsaw Football where he enjoyed watching his boys play where they could hear him “cheering” from the visitors side during the home games.

He is preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister, Katheryn Miller.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Shawn, of the home, two sons, Jimmy Miller and his wife Derenda, Weston Miller and his wife Shanda, 6 grandchildren, Grant, Grady, Grace, Mason, James and Gage, all of Warsaw, his brother John D. Miller, of Warrensburg, Missouri, two nieces, Kerri McCain and DeAnna Cogdill, five nephews, Kevin McCain, Chris McCain, Nathan Miller, David Miller and Landon Holmes, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the First United Methodist Church of Warsaw.  Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Monday evening May 6, 2024 at the Reser Funeral Home.  Graveside services and interment will be held at the Riverside Cemetery in Warsaw.

Jim had a passion for helping with the cemeteries in the area and spent countless hours doing maintenance work of all kinds.  The family ask that memorial contributions to be made to either Shawnee Cemetery, Fristoe Cemetery, Riverside Cemetery, Lincoln Cemetery or a cemetery of your choosing.  Donations can be made in care of the Reser Funeral Home P.O. Box 910 Warsaw, Missouri 65355.