The Van Buren press., 1897-06-12
Obitua ry.

Robert e. Miller departed this life May q,
1897 at $40 A. NJ, aged 2S years and days.
Deceased was native of North Carolina He
was married to Miss Mollie West, daughter of
John T. and Mary West, June II, 1891 He
leaves a devoted wife, two bright little boys and
large circle OF friends and and relatives to
mourn his loss. Previous to his death Bro.
Miller lived 3 miles east of Cedarville. On the
18th of April he went to visit his mother, Mrs.
Fordham who resides near Van Buren, intend
ing to remain there and assist the family in
taking care OF their crop of strawberries He
had been there but short time when he was
taken suddenly i'll. All that loving hands could
do to stay disease and death was done but all
in vain. After nearly weeks of intense suffer-
ing he went home to live with Jesus whom he
had SO faithfully served.
Bro. Miller was an earnest Christian man.
Indeed, | think he was one of the best and most
loYable men | ever knew. His life was an open
page filled with genial smiles, purest thoughts
and deeds of charity and self-denal. As a
Christian he was always in the front rank in all
church work As husband and father he
loved his wife and little ones with devoted
affection As son he always loved his mother
and the writer has often heard him speak of her
in tones of tenderness and affection. His
brothers and sisters were also objects of his
affection and he always met them with smile
which betokened the goodness of his heart
They were all present when he passed away
Six days before his death he called them to him
and said; Il want to talk to you while l am
able to talk lie spoke to all and begged them
not to weep for him. During the time he also
spoke to the Lord in prayer While he was
talking his brother Charlie said: Eddie we
have so often sung together but guess we shall
not sing together any more until we meet over
there Then the dying saint begin to sing
Must Jesus bear the cross alone" His brother
joined him on the last line of the first verse
Oh how many dying lips have uttered the
precious name of Jesus as the spirit left the
shores Of time; and how do those words burn in
our hearts and ring through the chambers of
our souls as we linger on the shore and look
beyond the dark sea. There is strange CO.
mingling of emotion which language cannot
describe. Our hearts are rent with sorrow and
yet we rejoice In the beautiful language of
inspiration I'VE are troubled on every side. yet
not distressed we are perplexed, but not in
despair cast down, but not destroyed"
The night is dark, the sea is rough and the
breakers are fearful. But the shore beyond is
beautiful and Jesus has passed over and he
commands the waves and the sea.
The cold surging billows that dash at my feet
Have lost all their terrors, their music is
sweet;
MY Saviour is stilling the tempest for me;
Then. Oh, let me anchor beyond the dark
sea-"
Just before his departure the subject of this
sketch said to his wife; MARY that 9Th chapter
of 2 Cor is such nice chapter would like to
preach from it where it speaks of this earthly
house of our tabernacle being dissolved" AS
the end drew near he desired to depart and be
with Christ" His last word was higher" No
doubt this was only an echo of the voice of
Jesus who just then spoke and said to a suffer
ing soul Come up higher" and he obeyed as
he had always done before. FAREWELL dear
brother; we shall never meet again in this
world. But we hope to meet in that world
whore sickness and sorrow, pain and death are
felt and feared no more"
Long and lovingly will thy memory be
cherished for what thou hast been and for the
good that thou hast done.
S. o. BuRKs.
Van Buren, Argus please copy.