In Memory of

John

Francis

Miller

Obituary for John Francis Miller

Dateline – Ogunquit
John Francis Miller, 92, of Ogunquit, died peacefully on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at Sentry Hill in York. He was born in Biddeford, ME on November 30, 1924, the fifth of seven children born to John Henry and Lois G. (Hatch) Miller. He grew up in Sanford, and graduated from Sanford High School, Class of 1943. Following high school, he was drafted and inducted into the U.S. Army, where he trained as a bombardier. Following his service, he returned home and married his childhood sweetheart, Norma Littlefield, and went to work as a carpenter. Shortly thereafter he joined the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, eventually becoming a nuclear design engineer and serving as President of Local 4 International Federation of Profession & Technical Engineers union, until his retirement.
John was very civic minded and served on countless committees and elected positions for both the town of Ogunquit and the State of Maine. These included the Board of Selectmen (Chairing for multiple years), Charter Review Committee, Wells-Ogunquit Community School District, Board of Assessment Review, Shellfish Conservation Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Steering Committee, Education Planning Commission, ECO Maine, Southern Maine Region Planning Committee, York County Fish and Game, among many others. John was also very active in the Ogunquit Baptist Church, serving as deacon and on various committees.
John was an avid outdoors man and enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons, grandson and friends. He was a great marksman, particularly proud of a large moose he tagged. He continued carpentry as a hobby, and enjoyed teaching his skills to his sons and grandson.
John is survived by his wife of 71 years, Norma Florence Miller of Ogunquit; his daughter, Cheryl M. Broderick of Ogunquit; grandson John Broderick and wife Nancy of Norwell, MA; granddaughters Brianne Miller Tomaselli and husband Michael, and Jenny Miller of Kennebunk; cousin Maurice Hatch; great grandchildren, Jack Broderick, Bryan Tomaselli, Riley Miller, William Broderick and Katherine Broderick, and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by two sons, Brian and John (Captain Jack) Miller, and by his six siblings.
Despite all the civic activities, John always put family first. No matter what the need, or project, he seemed to have a limitless fund of knowledge about how things should be done correctly. And he’d jump right in, sharing his know-how and countless hours of his time.
He was a great husband, dad, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. And, of course, his readiness with a story or joke made any project or time together even more perfect.
Visiting hours will be on Saturday, August 19, 2017 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, followed by a funeral services at 1PM at Ogunquit Baptist Church, 157 Shore Road, Ogunquit. Burial will follow in Locust Grove Cemetery, Ogunquit. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: Ogunquit Baptist Church Building Fund, PO Box 874, Ogunquit, ME 03907; or to the charity of one’s choice.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit John’s Book of Memories page at www.bibberfuneral.com.
Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 111 Chapel Road, PO Box 910, Wells, ME 04090. www.bibberfuneral.com