— Wendell Bryan Miller Sr., of Tanner, passed away peacefully on his birthday, Sunday, April 29, 2012, at Limestone Health Facility. He was 84 years old. The funeral for Mr. Miller will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at McConnell Funeral Home with visitation prior to the service from noon until 1:45 p.m. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery. Ministers Eddie Gooch and Ralph Johnson are officiating.

Mr. Miller was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Jeanne Peacock Miller, and a grandchild, Whitney Lane Miller; his parents, Mattie and Robert Kellogg Miller; and two siblings, Mary Miller Carlson and husband Edward of Newton, Mass., and Donald Miller and wife Alice of Athens.

He is survived by his four children, Dianne Jeffries and husband Dale of Evergreen, Colo., Wendell Bryan Miller Jr. and wife Cherie of Huntsville, and Wendy Fowler and husband Ralph and Jeremy Miller and wife Cindy of Athens; and a sister, Ehrma Whitt and husband Houston of Athens.

He is also survived by six grandchildren, Daniel Fowler of Auburn, Melissa Fowler Sisk and husband Corey of Harvest, Shea Miller Latini and husband Luca, and Holly Miller of Huntsville, and, Jessica Jeffries and husband Sascha Veljkovic and Rachel Jeffries of Frankfurt, Germany. His great-grandchildren are Lennox Jeffries and Sookie Jeffries of Frankfurt, Germany and Adelina Sophia Latini of Huntsville.

WB, or Bryan, as he was known by many, was born and raised in Tanner. He served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Korea. In 1949, he met and married his wife, Jeanne Peacock, of Florence, where he was attending college at the University of North Alabama. He told many stories about courting the lovely Jeanne in his red convertible. He and Jeanne lived in Huntsville for a few years before making their permanent home together in Tanner. Both were long-standing members of Tanner United Methodist Church.

Bryan retired in 1985 from federal civil service at Redstone Arsenal. He had an entrepreneurial nature and while working as a civil servant and after retirement, developed several commercial and residential properties in Tanner.

He loved his wife and family very much and was proud of his children’s success and happiness. He also loved his two pups, Heidi and Nicholas, both of whom were precious companions. His family will always remember him as a kind, quiet, gentle soul who was very giving to family, to his church and to people in need. He will be missed.

Pallbearers will be Jackie Leonard, Bob Gabrys, Donnie Miller, Andy Whitt, Dale Jeffries and Ralph Fowler.

Family and friends are invited to the home of Ralph and Wendy Fowler where the family will be gathering.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Limestone County in Athens and Tanner United Methodist Church.