Clifford William Miller

Funeral services for Clifford W. Miller, 82, were held Monday, June 30, 2014 at First Baptist Church in Sperry. Reverend Andy Anquoe officiated and burial was in Rest Haven Cemetery in Sperry. Pallbearers were Adrian Miller, Travis Miller, Frank Miller, Jason Miller, Jimmy Van Winkle, Joey Van Winkle, Christopher Miller, and Dominic Miller. Honorary casket bearers were Alex Miller, Matthew Tanner, Garrett Miller, Dagan Miller, Jesse Miller and Jeff Miller. Arrangements and services were entrusted to Johnson Funeral Home, Sperry.

Clifford was born November 17, 1931 in Osage, OK to Irven and Clara (Smithee) Miller. Clifford passed away June 24, 2014 at his final home, in Okemah, OK, he and his wife, Darlene, made together 38 years ago.

Clifford was the oldest of 6 children. He attended school in Osage Public Schools, Rock School north of Sand Springs, and Sand Springs High School. While attending Rock School, he and his brothers’ exceled in basketball and tormenting his favorite teacher, Miss Weir.

Clifford’s education also started at the age of 4 years old, helping his grandfather, Frank, hitch up teams of horses to start the day’s work on their Osage Farm at 4:30 am. Horses became his passion and by his teenage years, Clifford realized horses could become a source of income by breaking horses to ride for people in the area. He heard of a neighbor who had a horse that needed broke When he arrived at the home of Herbert Holcomb, he knew he had his work cut out for him but, not with the horse that needed broke. His challenge was figuring out how he could get a date with Mr. Holcomb’s daughter, Darlene. His plan was to do an extra good job with Mr. Holcomb’s horse and Mr. Holcomb might agree to let him go out on a date with Darlene. His plan worked. A few years later of courting and following Darlene to high school, Clifford and Darlene were married on April 15, 1950.

After struggling with severe drought and high unemployment around Tulsa in the 50’s, the family decided to move to Idaho where other family members were able to make a living. Clifford became employed laboring on the pipeline in 1955. After laboring a few years, Cliff got a chance to breakout operating a side boom tractor handling the pipe. He realized quickly he found his second calling because latching onto pipe wasn’t much different than roping a horse. Shortly after, he became a member of the Operating Engineers Union, Local #627 in Tulsa, eventually becoming a National Charter Member. Cliff spent the rest of his working years driving a side boom, traveling over the entire United States with Darlene and eventually raising 6 children. In 1977, Clifford, Darlene and the youngest children moved to the small ranch they bought in Okemah, OK with enough property to begin raising registered Appaloosa horses.

After 40 years of pipelining and 20 years raising horses, Cliff decided to retire in 1995. Clifford lived a long, very rewarding and full life before he fell asleep in his recliner and went to be with Darlene and visit with “That Feller Upstairs.”

Clifford is survived by his six children, Terry of Okemah, Carla of Sand Springs, Bill of Sand Springs, Mark of Tulsa, Mike of Keystone and Margie of Owasso; 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Darlene; great-grandson, Hunter Hopkins; parents, Irven and Clara Miller; and brothers, Dale and Sam Miller.