James R. "Jim" Miller II

James R. "Jim" Miller, II, of Ruidoso, NM, passed away peacefully, with his loving family at his side, on April 10, 2012. Jim was a wonderful and loving father to his three children: Jim, Trish, and Madison. His grand and caring presence will always be missed. Jim was born September 20, 1950, in Portales, NM and lived his early years in Carlsbad, prior to his family moving to Midland, TX, in 1957. It was in Midland where Jim completed his elementary and junior high school education, prior to graduating from Robert E. Lee High School in May of 1968. Jim was one of a special group of people that had spent virtually all of their school years together and all of these friends are saddened to see him move on at such an early age. While at Lee High School, Jim excelled at track and football. He was a member of the 1967 Midland Lee team known as the "Dirty Thirty", that produced the first winning season for Lee. As a result of his success on the football field, Jim was awarded a football scholarship to Division I, Rice University in Houston, TX. At an early age Jim became an avid outdoorsman, who learned to appreciate hunting and fishing under the teachings of his dad and his dad's close associates. There were many memorable trips afield with the "giants" and with the sons of those elder ones that had the opportunity to grow up with Jim. We know now the lessons learned during those early years, taught Jim to keep a vigilant and watchful eye on the environment and conservation. After college, Jim moved to the family ranch outside of White's City, NM, where he assisted in the cattle and farming operations. Those lessons learned at the "knee of the giants" carried over into practical application through the years that Jim spent on "the Ranch", in the shadow of the Guadalupe Mountains. Later in his life, Jim felt another calling and dedicated his time to mentoring and fostering at-risk children. He acted as Board Chairman of the NM Child Abuse and Neglect Citizen Review Board, Lincoln County, and worked as a Treatment Foster Care Parent for Mesilla Valley Hospital and Family Pride Foundation, up until the time of his death. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, J.W. and Patricia Miller; grandparents, J.R. and Gertrude Miller; an uncle, Forrest Miller; two wonderful aunts, Loredo McKinney and Evelyn Dorothy Miller; and his nephew, Tony R. Conley, Jr. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl of the home in Ruidoso, NM; a son, James Robert Miller, III of Ruidoso; two daughters, Patricia Evelyn-Elaine Miller of Roswell, NM and Madison Lillian-Grace Miller of the home; a brother, John W. Miller of Madison, WI; two sisters, Patricia Ann Conley of White's City and Ann Elizabeth Miller of Dallas, TX; and many cherished cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and numerous life-long friends, who loved him dearly. He will always be remembered for his wonderful intellect, a quick wit, his bold laugh, and a tremendous sense of humor, on top of being overly kind and possessing a gentle spirit. As always, the passing of a loved one and close friend leaves us with a void we cannot fill, but also leaves us with so very many cherished memories, and we forever thank the Lord for the 61 years He allowed us to share with Jim. A Memorial in his honor will be held at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, May 5, 2012, at the Washington Ranch Headquarters, 18 Rattlesnake Springs Road, located 5 miles South of White's City, NM.