Ray Joel Miller

Ray J. Miller age 93, of Meridian, passed away on August 4, 2023 in Clifton, Texas.

Funeral services will take place at 11 A.M., Wednesday, August 9, 2023 at the First Methodist Church in Meridian. Bro. Richard Creech, Pastor San-ky Kim, Mark Williamson and Willard Still will officiate. Private family only interment will follow the funeral service at Meridian Cemetery. Family will receive visitors at Lawson Funeral Home from 5 P.M. until 7 P.M., Tuesday, August 8, 2023. The family wishes to invite everyone to a catered meal at 1 P.M., August 9, 2023 at the First Methodist Church Family Life Center in Meridian. Pallbearers will be Rickey Koonsman, Todd Hyatt, Logan Malott, Derek Malott, Doug Still and Refugio Sanchez.

Ray was born and raised in Bosque County.  He married his childhood sweetheart, Jean Dunn, in 1947, and raised two children.  Ray and Jean were married 61 years before her passing in 2008. Ray started his first company, Dalworth Tile, in the metroplex in the early sixties.  In 1967, he and his family returned to Meridian where he went on to build over 100 custom homes in Bosque County.  In 1982, Ray J. Miller Construction Company began commercial construction, expanding to San Antonio where he built commercial restaurants for his brother, Bill Miller. Ray was a leader and a servant to his county, church and community.  He built the Bosque County Jail, Meridian Civic Center, and the FMC Family Life Center.  He served two terms as a County Commissioner, was a Director and major stockholder of Bosque County Bank, was a founding member of the Chili Gang, the first President of the National Championship BBQ Cookoff, and a recipient of the Meridian Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award. In his spare time, Ray enjoyed farming and ranching, traveling, dancing, and spending time with family and friends. In 2009, Ray married Ernestene Warren, and the two of them enjoyed a quiet and peaceful life together for 14 years.

Left to cherish his memories are his wife, Ernestene Miller; son, David Miller and wife, Kelly; daughter, Becki Brinkley; granddaughters, Cristy Malott and husband, Anthony, Deana Baker and husband, Todd; great-grandsons, Logan Malott and Derek Malott; brother, Lonnie Miller and wife, Jan; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends.

Preceded in death by his parents, William A. and Ruby Lundberg Miller; wife, Jean Miller; and siblings, Doris Mize, Faye Johnson, Terrell Miller and Billy Miller.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent in honor of Ray to:

Lutheran Sunset Ministries
P.O. Box 71
Clifton, Texas 76634

or

Hospice Sunset
P.O. Box 71
Clifton, Texas 76634

Arrangements were entrusted to Lawson Funeral Home, Meridian, Texas 254-435-2792 .