Beatty P. Miller

Beatty P. Miller, 93, of Osage County, died November 14, 2012, in St. Louis at Friendship Village Chesterfield. He was born December 18, 1918, in Osage County, to John Jefferson Miller and Dice Rhoads Miller of Useful. Miller was graduated in 1941 from Southwest Baptist College (now University), Bolivar, with an associate of education degree. In 1975, Southwest Baptist College awarded him their Life Service Award. According to the University, the award goes annually to alumni who demonstrate excellence in their personal and professional lives by living exemplary lives and by making a significant contribution in their field of service. He was a manager for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in the Bootheel area for more than 30 years, Miller moved to Sikeston in 1949 with the company. In the early 1990's after he retired from his insurance and investment work, he and Ruth returned to St. Louis to be nearer her parents and family property in Central Mo. In the United States Army Air Corps (forerunner of the United State Air Force) during World War II, Miller, who earned a pilot's license in Jefferson City in younger years before his driver's license, flew with Gen. "Jimmy" Doolittle and saw action in Italy and North Africa. He was a church deacon and member of the First Baptist Church, Sikeston, and later at Parkway Baptist Church, St. Louis. Miller is survived by his wife, Ruth Hoffmann Miller; a daughter, Carol Miller, who interned at the News-Tribune while a student at the University of Missouri's School of Journalism, and son-in-law, George Thacher Guernsey, IV, all currently of St. Louis. A son Curtis Lynn Miller preceded him in death in 1960. The memorial service is set for 11 a.m., Saturday, December 1, 2012, at Parkway Baptist Church, Olive and Ross in St. Louis, with burial and graveside services at 11:30 a.m., Thursday, December 6, 2012, at the Useful Cemetery, Osage County, near Linn.