Lewis M. Miles

Lewis M. Miles
Chapel Hill
Lewis M. Miles, 83, died at Carolina Meadows Health Center on April 5, 2011 after an extended illness (lymphoma). He was born in Kansas City, MO to George and Hazel Miles. As a young adult, he joined the Jesuits as a lay brother. Part of that time was spent at St. Stephen's Indian Mission in Wyoming. After leaving the order, he obtained a BS from Rockhurst College and an MA from the University of Missouri-Columbia and worked as a community development organizer in Kansas City, MO. One of his most memorable roles, however, was his volunteer work in organizing his neighborhood in the Bowling Green area of Kansas City and two neighborhoods in Chapel Hill to "know your neighbors" and work together toward common goals. The seeds he planted in each of these neighborhoods continue to grow today. His other missions in life were social justice and conservation and recycling. Always interested in becoming an artist, he took up Botanical drawing in his later years and was awarded an Honorary Certificate in Botanical Illustration.
Lew is survived by his loving wife of 43 years, Margaret S. Miles; and his sister, Diane Kudla and husband, Ron; his daughter, Aimee and husband, Scott Eckler; and three wonderful grandchildren, Abigail, Emma, and Olivia. He is particularly remembered by his grandchildren for teaching them learn to draw and paint and for his gentle loving ways. He is also survived by numerous relatives including the large extended family of Marge and is also remembered fondly by many friends from all aspects of his rich and long life.
We wish to share our appreciation of the excellent health care and support he received from Dr. Peter Voorhees and his team at UNC Cancer Hospital, from the outstanding staff at Carolina Meadows, and from UNC Hospice.
A Celebration of his Life will be held at Binkley Baptist Church on May 1, 2011 at 4:00 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made towards a memorial bench to the UNC Botanical Gardens (CB 3375, CH, NC 27599-3375).