MILLER, Cecil H.

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, Arizona, Sunday, November 03, 2013 One of Arizona agriculture's most dedicated advocates, Cecil H. Miller, Jr., passed away peacefully on October 2 at home surrounded by family. Born November 6, 1927 at St. Joseph Hospital in Phoenix to Cecil H. Miller, Sr. and Phyllis HIckey Miller. He graduated from North Phoenix High School and received a BS in Animal Husbandry from University of Arizona in 1949. In 1950 he married the love of his life, Alzora Benton. With his father, Cecil Sr., and brother, Duane, he farmed and ran a feedlot in Tolleson, had large cattle ranches in Cottonwood and Flagstaff, and later developed a diversified farming operation in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Cecil served in numerous city, state, national and international organizations. In the area of agriculture and cattle ranching he was president of Arizona Farm Bureau for more than two decades and vice-president of American Farm Bureau Federation. In this capacity he served on trade missions to Israel, Switzerland, Russia, Japan, Denmark and France. He served on the board for the Arizona Cattle Feeders Association and Arizona Cattle Growers Association. For all his work, travel and public service, Cecil was happiest at his beloved DK Ranch on Rogers Lake in Flagstaff. There he could sit on the front porch in the evening, pointing out the elk making their way onto the lake and recounting cattle drives from an earlier time. He is survived by children Deborah (Ted) Sheely of Lemoore, CA, Cecily (Scott) Buell of Flagstaff, Ellen Luckey of Prescott, Matthew (Kimberly) Miller of Phoenix, thirteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind his brother Duane Miller and wife, Beverly. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alzora, and one grandson. A memorial service will be held November 16 at 10:30am at the Church of Litchfield Park, 300 N. Old Litchfield Road in Litchfield Park. In lieu of flowers a scholarship fund has been set up through the Arizona Farm Bureau (AFB Education Farming Co., 325 S. Higley Road, Suite 210, Gilbert, AZ 85296, (480) 635-3607). This obituary was prepared by the Advertising Department (928) 556-2279.