Earl T. Miller

SUGARLOAF — Earl T. Miller, 94, of Sugarloaf, passed away Thursday afternoon, Sept. 14, 2017, after a brief illness.

Born in Hazleton on May 16, 1923, he was the son of the late Claude R. and Marie (Tressler) Miller, and spent his entire life in Sugarloaf. He was a 1941 graduate of West Hazleton High School, and then continued his education by taking agriculture courses at Penn State University in 1942.

Earl was a fifth-generation farmer, having worked the family farm for close to 70 years before retiring in 2004. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Farmers Association, and the Berwick Co-Op. After retiring, he took great pride in maintaining the family homestead, and was often seen on his John Deere mowing the lawn around the farm. He served his community as a Sugarloaf Township supervisor for 43 years, and was inducted into the Supervisor Hall of Fame in 2006. He was also a member of the Sugarloaf Township Recreation Board, Sugarloaf Fire Company and Conyngham Historical Society. He served on the board and as sexton of Conyngham Union Cemetery for many years. Earl was a member of Christ Church, United Church of Christ, Conyngham and the church consistory. He was a member of the Conyngham Lions Club and the Conyngham Sportsman's Club. Most of all, Earl was a loving dad, pop-pop, and great-pop-pop, who loved spending time and creating memories with his family.

He was preceded in death, in addition to his parents, by his wife, the former Esther E. Kahler, to whom he was married 50 years prior to her passing in 1995; a sister Helen Oberst, 2007; and his longtime companion Clara McGrath, earlier this year.

Surviving are his daughter Donna Miller; two granddaughters, Tracy Karchner and her fiancé Rick Crawford; and Jennifer McCracken and her husband Jim; three great-grandchildren, Savanna, Mackenzie, and James Russell "JR" McCracken; brother-in-law George Oberst, all of Sugarloaf; a sister-in-law Anna Mae Koons and her husband Russell, of Dorrance; two nieces; a nephew; and his dog, Heidi.

His funeral will be held 10 a.m. Monday from Harman Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., (East) 669 W. Butler Drive, Drums, with his pastor, Sandy Murphy, officiating. Burial will follow in Conyngham Union Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Memorial donations can be made to the Memorial Fund of Christ Church, United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 187, Conyngham, PA 18219. Online condolences can be entered, and more information is available at www.harmanfuneral.com.