James Miller

7/10/1938-03/05/2024

Artist, car aficionado, and local Butchertown historian James (Jim) M. Miller died on March 5, 2024, of natural causes with his family at his side.

Jim grew up in Clifton Heights, the knobs east of downtown Louisville, as the middle brother to older brother Phil and playful younger brother Vernie. The three brothers, thick-as-thieves, explored Louisville's neighborhoods on their bikes and developed a mutual love of American cars together. As adults, the brothers traveled and gathered as family men.

Jim became friends with his wife of 63 years, Anna (Ann) Marie Adkins, in 1958 because Ann liked his iconic '57 Chevy. Their friendship evolved over two years as they spent time in the dance and pool halls of Butchertown, The Point, and Crescent Hill. They married in 1959 at Jim's family's home on Halloween, now a favorite holiday for the whole family.

Jim's natural talent as an artist was born from his sensitive, acute eye for detail, thoughtful expression of admiration, and love for the people and subjects he portrayed. Getting a hand-made Jim card for a birthday or holiday became a treasured keepsake for the recipient.

Jim's career as the service dispatcher at Broadway Chevrolet is where he further developed an appreciation for the design of cars and his knowledge of auto mechanics. His job responsibilities included driving various models and honing his understanding of each vehicle's power and drive experience. Jim shared his passion for cars with his older son, Jim, teaching him to rebuild the engine and restore the body of a 1970 Jeepster Commando that was handed down, father to son.

In his 30s, Jim developed cardiovascular disease, becoming an early patient of renowned surgeon Dr. Allan Lansing. Dr. Lansing also counted Jim as a successful test case for the pioneering TMR laser heart procedure developed as an option to bypass surgery. The doctors at Louisville Cardiology Associates helped Jim stay well decades past his family's expectations. And, Ann was Jim's fierce health advocate, extending the long life no one anticipated him to have.

As an amateur historian, Jim was a voracious reader of US and world history, the histories of Louisville's neighborhoods, and bygone local Breweries. Jim and Ann appreciated and understood the historical value of the preservation of Butchertown. The couple bought property there in the 1970s for Ann to set up a costume rental store, The Quartermaster Depot. It became the Mom & Pop shop that customers relied on for Jim's knowledge of military memorabilia and Ann's ability to accurately recreate period costumes for theaters and events. Their daughter, Sheri, and son, Paul, helped during busy seasons and at antique and military shows.

Together, Jim and Ann delighted in cheering on their grandsons at games, school events, and birthdays. During Christmas time, Jim gave and received gifts with equal pleasure. Also, the man loved to eat! At family gatherings, his daughter and daughters-in-law were frequently asked, "Whatcha got for me to eat in that bag?"

Jim is preceded in death by his mother, Margaret Schneider Miller, his father, Vernon Miller, and his brothers, Phil and Vernon Miller. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Anna Adkins Miller, daughter Sheri Neuman (Rick), son Jim Miller (Patty Marguet), son Paul Miller (Jessica Nally), and Grandchildren Robert Neuman (Holly), Ashley Neuman, Lancaster Miller, Rockland Miller, and Griffin Miller.

Visitation and Celebration of Life March 29 from 3pm to 7pm, Locust Grove Visitors Center, 561 Blankenbaker Lane 40207. There will be a private family burial.

Thank you for expressing sympathy through donations to the American Heart Association and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.