C. Miller

This is the story of a local man’s amazing lifetime of achievements: Rep. C. Frank Miller.

Frank Miller was born July 3, 1933 in Barranquilla, Colombia, South America.  His parents Ruth and Bill Miller, were Presbyterian missionaries and back in those days the Presbyterian missionaries built schools all over the world.  Frank and his sister Betsy, attended the Columbian schools for elementary through most of his high school studies and consequently spoke, read and wrote fluent Spanish.

Because of the laws for dual citizenship, Frank had to graduate from an American high school, so, by himself, at the age of 16, he left Colombia and attended high school in Huntsville, Texas.  This was where he met Sarah Martinez, whom he sang duets with in Spanish for school.

He went on to Texas A&M University, where he graduated with his Master’s in the top five percent of his class as an Agricultural Engineer. Frank, financed his education by working on the college dairy farm and spent five years in the U.S. Navy.

Sarah Martinez (1934) and Frank Miller married on December 20, 1956. They had three children: their oldest daughter, Ruth Miller (born in 1958) had two sons, Aaron Kern in 1984 and Luke Kern in 1986 with her first husband Stephen Kern (they were married in 1980).  She later remarried in 1992, to Jürgen Hanke and they had a son, Philip Hanke in 1993.  Jürgen also brought into Ruth’s life two bonus daughters with their spouses and children: Cecilia Hanke (1972) who married Ira Wolfson in 2002 they have two daughters; Alexa Hanke (1977) who married George Braun in 2006, they have a son and a daughter.

Their son, Mark Miller (who was born in 1959) married Jeanette Roudebush  in 1987 and they had three daughters:  Ruth Ann Miller born in 1989 (who married Mark Wagner in 2016);  Sarah Grace Miller, born in 1992 (who married Brian Hamm in 2017); and Lois Hannah Miller was born in 1994.

Their youngest daughter, Leah Miller (born in 1964), married Jeff Mosley in 1988 and they had three children.  Micah Mosley born in 1990; Clayton Mosley born in 1994 (who married Jenna Nigro in 2020); and Emma Mosley born in 1997.

Frank Miller was an International Agricultural Engineer for Ralston Purina and M.E.C.; traveling over 50 countries worldwide during his career.  During their married life, Frank and Sarah lived in Milan, Italy; Saint Louis, Missouri; and Independence, Kansas. Sadly, Sarah Martinez Miller, suddenly passed on September 18, 1999, from TTP (thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura).

Later, Frank married Sharon Jones Toomey October 6, 2000 in Independence, Kansas. (Sharon had two children from a previous marriage: A son, Brian Toomey 1961 (who married Henrietta Box in 2002).  They have a bonus family of five children and eleven grandchildren.  Their children are: David Toomey (1982); Paul Corbett (1983); Loren Corbett (1984); Lisa Corbett (1988); and Spencer Toomey (1995).

Sharon Miller’s daughter is Sonja Toomey born in 1963, she married Anthony Ezard in 2016.  She has two sons, two bonus daughters and three grandchildren.  Her sons are: Sean Lofgren (1984); and Craig Lofgren (1989).  Tony’s daughters are Haley Ezard (1985) and Abby Kahler (1991).

Frank Miller, considered himself blessed with a bonus family of five children plus their spouses; eighteen grandchildren; and eighteen great-grandchildren.

When Frank met Sharon Miller, she was a retired Executive Secretary for ARCO.  Her past career was greatly instrumental in Frank Miller becoming a State of Kansas Representative. Frank served as a Republican Representative for District #12, from 2001 through 2006.

In 2007, Frank and Sharon Miller retired and resided at their home in Independence, Kansas. During this time, he wrote his memoirs entitled, Life of an MK (MK is an acronym for missionaries’ kid). In 2019, Frank completed his book and it was published and Sharon and Frank made a quick and timely decision to sell their home and they both moved to the Country Place Senior Living in Independence, Kansas.

Frank entered into hospice care with mesothelioma, March of 2020.  The next months were very difficult for Frank and Sharon but they both kept their faith and love for the Lord. Hearing his favorite hymn sung by his daughter and wife, It is Well , Frank Miller passed in the arms of Sharon on May 22, 2020 at 12:30 pm.

During C. Frank Miller’s lifetime, he traveled a total of over 2.5 million miles, to 45 nations and capitals of the world and built five animal feed manufacturing plants for Ralston Purina Company; one in Italy and four in the United States. While living in Italy for seven years Frank became fluent in reading, speaking and writing in Italian.  One of Ralston Purina’s manufacturing plants designed and constructed by Miller, was the largest plant (and still is to this day) that Ralston Purina has ever built.  It is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and cost $31 M to build in 1973-1975.

While working for M.E.C of Neodesha, Kansas he designed and built 28 feed-mill plants for Taiwan, China and South America.  These accomplishments helped M.E.C. to receive an award from Governor Dole for bringing in the most foreign monies into the state of Kansas. The total of both the Ralston Purina and M.E.C. plants designed and constructed by Frank Miller number 33 in total and were valued conservatively at approximately $140 M.

BUT, the most important thing in Frank Miller’s life was: his relationship with Jesus Christ.

“I was blessed with many family members, teachers, pastors, bosses, business associates, Navy buddies, subordinates, friends, engineers, constituents, and fellow legislators that helped mold my character and who gave me good counsel in relational ethics, courtesy, courage, tolerance and most of all Spiritual Wisdom to discern right from wrong during my life.  And above all, I am thankful to God for the much-needed guidance and protection He has provided for me.”

Frank’s favorite verse: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall, I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalms 27:1

A Memorial Service is scheduled for July 25th, 2020 at 10:00 AM.  Location: First Southern Baptist Church, 2701 West 8th Street, (Corner of 8th Street and Overlook Street.), Coffeyville, KS 67337.  Phone for Church (620) 251-6980.

Check this website: https://www.webbrodrickchapel.com/  for any updates on cancelation of service due to a Coronavirus outbreak.