J.I. (James Ivan) Miller died at his home on September 12, 2014 surrounded by his loving family and caregivers following an extended illness. He was 84. J. I. was a passionate gentle man. He loved and nurtured his wife, children and family."He was proud of our accomplishments from good grades in school to our career choices, he loved to read the newspaper to us at the breakfast table" his children said. His business associates were his friends and they stuck with and supported him throughout his career and illness. He spent much of his young life with his grandparents on Staggs Creek were he learned to fly fish. With his dog at his side, he approached the babble of a creek with the reverence given a divine cathedral. The search was for native speckled trout on remote streams where few fishers ventured. It was the peaceful sound, the smell the moss and swirl of the ice cold water that drew him back to the creek side. The small trout, a wily competitor, were always released for another day. An avid reader, he loved politics and history, a good argument, VPI football, telling stories, big band music and a glass of good bourbon. He valued loyalty and morality in people and organizations. J.I. is survived by his wife of 50 years Noel Holman Miller, his children, Ingrid Miller of Asheville, Allison Miller of Chapel Hill and James Miller of Boston, his sister Sallie Sanders of Statesville and his sister-in-law Alice Atwood and her husband Pat Considine and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Ivan Miller and mother Fay Goss Saunders, a brother John Frank and sisters Judy Moring, and Randy Langley. Born in Ashe County on November 20, 1929, Mr. Miller earned a business degree from VPI and a master’s degree in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In the early 1950's he worked for North Carolina State Department followed by over sixty years in the furniture industry as a sales representative, sales manager and plant manager. He was a member of the Ashe Shrine Club, Ashe Masonic Lodge # 594 and the Oasis Temple of Charlotte. The family wants to thank JI's caregivers for their dedication, loyalty and caring support of his every need over the past five years. They even served as his chauffeur as he continued to call on his business associates throughout the region. They include Sarah Harmon, Tina Miller, Courtney Eldreth, Muriel Stevens and Sarah Huskins. Memorials can be made to High Country Home Health and Hospice at 1877 NC Hwy 163, West Jefferson, NC 28694; Shriners Hospitals at PO Box 560666, Charlotte, NC 28256 or Happy Tails Rescue at 431 E Second Street, West Jefferson, N.C. Visitation will be held at Boone Family Funeral Home at 5 pm on Monday September, 15 followed by the funeral service at 6 pm. A private burial will be held at AsheLawn Memorial Gardens.