Olon Miller

Olon Miller (73) of Frostproof went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, April 13, 2011. Olon was born in rural Hardee County on June 30, 1937 to James Jerry Miller and Demmie Smith Miller. He graduated from Frostproof High School in 1955 and immediately enlisted in the Air Force where he spent four years and was honorably discharged. Olon was a Christian by faith.

He was involved in the citrus business all of his life and worked in most phases of the industry. While in high school he worked at dumping up 50 pound bags of fertilizer, hoeing and pruning trees, and laying irrigation pipes along with many other menial jobs. After returning from the Air Force he worked with his father in his citrus harvesting business. Many times he picked boxes of fruit early in the morning, to earn extra money, until there were enough boxes to make a load, then he would haul fruit to the packing house the remainder of the day. Later, he drove semi loads of fruit to the plant, became a field rider, citrus buyer and then a grove owner himself.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Carol Fee Miller; brother, James Orville Miller; father, James Jerry Miller and mother, Demmie Smith Miller. Survivors include his wife, Tina Miller; sister, Mavis Miller Johnson of Arlington, GA; daughters, Terri Miller Douglas (Rick) of Frostproof; Debbie Miller Howard (Jerry) of Avon Park; Cindy Miller Duhm (Allan) of Lakeland; Patty Miller Gonzales (Martin) of Frostproof; stepsons, Joe Elyard (Mary) of Sacramento, CA; Tim Elyard of Raleigh, NC; Tom Elyard (Maggie) of Frostproof and their mother Charlotte Puterbaugh Miller, and stepson, Dean Duncan of Lake Placid. Other survivors include 18 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 14 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Frostproof. The funeral service will follow on Friday morning at 10:00 am also at Marion Nelson Funeral Home, with graveside services immediately following at Silver Hill Cemetery.

To view the webcast of his service, please click the link below:
http://webcasts.lifetributes.com/212290