The Reverend James Edward Miley of Ventura, California died Wednesday, November 26, 2014, of complications related to Alzheimer's Disease. He was 78 years old.
The youngest of four brothers, Rev. Miley was born February 18, 1936, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to the Rev. Charles and Amy Miley. Following graduation from High School in Sacramento, California, he attended Wittenburg University and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. He was ordained as a Lutheran Minister in 1962 and served for nearly fifty years at eight parishes, including seven years from 1983-1990 as Senior Pastor at Mount Cross Lutheran Church in Camarillo, where he was instrumental in creating the Mount Cross Child Development Center. In 1991 he transitioned to church administration as a Region Coordinator for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in American in Nevada and Pennsylvania. Following his retirement in 2003, he continued in service to the church as interim minister for Our Savior's and Christ the Servant Lutheran Churches in Bellingham Washington, in addition to another year in administration for Region One of the ELCA in Seattle, Washington.
Pastor Miley had a warm smile, a generous heart, and a positive outlook that inspired all those fortunate enough to cross his path. His boundless energy and enthusiasm for helping others enrich their spiritual lives was the primary reason he was chosen on three different occasions to found new mission congregations from the ground up. He was a devoted family man who was proud of his children and grandchildren.
Reverend Miley is survived by his wife, Avis, his brother Frank and David Miley, his five children: Robert, Jeffrey, Kari, James, and Stephen; 10 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother Ralph.
Family and Friends are invited to visiting hours to be held on Friday December 5, 2014 from 5 to 8pm in the JOSEPH P. REARDON FUNERAL HOME, 757 E. Main Street Ventura. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday December 6, 2014 at Noon in Mount Cross Lutheran Church, 102 Camino Esplendido, Camarillo. Interment will immediately follow in Conejo Mountain Memorial Park, Howard Street Camarillo.
In Lieu of flowers donations to Mount Cross Lutheran Church 102 Camino Esplendido, Camarillo CA 93010 or Lutheran World Relief 700 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230.