L. Wayne Miller

Wayne Miller, of Grove, Oklahoma, passed into the arms of his Savior in Joplin, Missouri on Thursday, July 22, 2021 at the age of 86. Wayne was born on May 17, 1935 in rural Grove to Mose and Ora (Gurley) Miller. Wayne attended Grove High School and eagerly played football with the Grove Ridgerunners. He graduated from Grove with the class of 1954. Wayne married the love of his life, Patsy Raymond, on July 16, 1957 in Miami, Oklahoma. The couple moved to Wichita, Kansas where Wayne attended Wichita State College and earned his Fire Science degree. Wayne became a firefighter with the Wichita Fire Department attaining the rank of Captain. He worked at several different fire stations in the city during his long career, Station #5 being his final one. During his time at Station #5 he experienced a near death experience in which he was ‘dead’ for 17 1/2 minutes before being revived by his fellow firefighters. Ironically this happened 32 years ago this month. If not for his faithful comrades and the close proximity of the station to the hospital, he would not have made it to live the long and wonderful life that he did. His chosen profession was a source of honor for him and his family. Becoming a firefighter was a lifelong dream which he proudly achieved. The couple raised their family in Wichita before his retirement after 25 honorable years with the department. They moved back to Grove in 1990. He and Patsy were avid Grove Ridgerunner fans, attending football, basketball, and softball games as often as possible. Once a Ridgerunner, always a Ridgerunner! They were also enthusiastic OU fans and fervently supported their teams whether victorious or not! Besides his passion for sports, fishing and hunting were his chosen hobbies, and until his health declined, he could be found in his favorite fishing spot, or enthusiastically preparing his hunting gear for the next hunting season. His wife and family meant everything to Wayne, and he enjoyed every moment of time spent with them. He always looked forward to family activities. He and Patsy regularly attended Bible Baptist Church and he will be greatly missed by his church family as well as a multitude of friends. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Ellen Snyder and Lelia Reed and two brothers, Melvin and Herbert Miller. Left to cherish his memory; his wife Patsy; son Bob Miller of Grove, daughters Debra Osborn and husband Marty of Clayton, North Carolina and Leslie Hentzen and husband Joe, of Wichita, Kansas; seven adored grandchildren, Justin Osborn, Casi Ebbing, Matthew Hentzen, Jacob Hentzen, Lauren Hentzen, Ty Miller and Jesse Miller; and 2 great grandchildren. There will be a visitation for family and friends on Monday, July 26, from 5 – 7 pm at Nichols-Stephens Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be at 2 pm Tuesday, July 27, 2021 at Bible Baptist Church, Grove, Oklahoma. Interment will follow at Buzzard Cemetery in Grove. Arrangements are entrusted to Nichols-Stephens Funeral & Cremation Services of Grove, Oklahoma.

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L. Wayne Miller

May 17, 1935 - July 22, 2021