Benny R Miles SR

IN MEMORY OF: BENNY R. MILES, SR. Serving Location: CRAIN PLEASANT GROVE-MURDALE FUNERAL HOME 31 Memorial Drive (Old Route 13), Murphysboro, Illinois Benny R Miles Sr., aged 92 years, passed from this earth peacefully on Father’s day at 5:45 pm, June 18, 2023 at his home in Desoto, Illinois after a long and meaningful life in the warm and loving embrace of his family. Benny was the first baby born in Jackson County on January 1st, 1931 to Charles F and Josephine M (Wright) Miles in Grand Tower, Illinois. His mother was on the Choctaw rolls making Benny 1/4 Native American. He grew up during the Great depression with 17 siblings. His youth was spent swimming in the Mississippi river, running and hunting in the woods and bluffs of Pine Hills and Happy Hollow, helping his dad work the family garden, and committing general pranks and mischief with his brothers. Benny graduated from Grand Tower H.S. class of '49'. After high school he drove a truck for R.E. Masters & Foundation Construction Company working on construction of the Grand Tower Power Plant. When the Korean War started Benny joined the United States Navy where he received communications training and was a Radioman on the Destroyers USS Myles C Fox and USS Turner (DDR 834). He was awarded the National Defense Service and Navy Occupation Service Medals. Benny was honorably discharged in Nov 1953 achieving the rank of Radioman 3rd Class. Benny married Nancy Louise Leonard December 3, 1954 in Rosebud. Benny and Nancy were married 69 years. They had 3 children: Jackie L. Koch (Ken), Benny J. R. Miles Jr (Danette), Matthew T. Miles (Kerri), and 9 grandchildren: Adam Koch (Ruth), Ashlee Pack (Carl), Mackenzie Sergoviano (Esequio), Jessy Herrell (Zach), Benny Miles III (Edwina Higgins), Daniel Miles (Ashley), Ethan Miles, Jacob Miles, and Lorena Miles, and many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He is survived by one sibling, Betty Miles. Benny worked as a truck driver, United States Navy-Radioman-Korean War Veteran, stock car racer, cafe owner, railway clerk, business man (Area TV repair, Miles trailer court, Ben Miles mobile home repair), lake marina operator, and after many years of "greasing the wheel", finally retiring from the Illinois Central Railroad in 1987. Benny had an extraordinary and accomplished life. He was an electrician, plumber, carpenter, mechanic, golden gloves boxer, and clerk to name a few. In example he could type 120 words per minute, do 8 hours of work in 4 hours change a transmission, build a house, make the harmonica sound like a 5 piece band, would always help, and often sung "Time goes by so slowly". During his long retirement he enjoyed time spent with family, traveling in his RV, auctions, home projects, a good meal, the smell of coffee in the morning, beef bacon frying at a campsite in the Smoky Mountains, long conversations with friends, picking wild asparagus, poke, and mushrooms, as well as walking and maintaining a positive, fit, and active lifestyle. He enjoyed meeting people and could drink coffee and "shoot the breeze" with the best of them. He was an excellent storyteller. He led an economical lifestyle and knew how to negotiate the best price for goods and services. Benny was a good son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather being an exceptional caretaker, provider, disciplinarian, teacher, and best friend for his family all the days of his long life. After a lifetime of being "overworked, underfed, and underpaid" he finally gets a well-deserved rest. In accordance with his wishes there will be no public service. He did not request clergy as he had a personal relationship with God. He did not wish any money to be spent on memorials. Please leave memories below. The family will have a private celebration of life and graveside full military honors at a later date. Being generally happy every day of his life he did not want to cause his friends grief. He also wanted no tears, too bad. There are not enough words to adequately describe Benny. His strength and depth of character, authentic and honest demeanor, and colorful outgoing personality made him unique, there will never be another like him. He will be missed and remembered with the greatest love, respect, and affection by his family and those who really knew him. The best man I know. Thank you Dad. Arrangements have been entrusted to Crain Pleasant Grove-Murdale Funeral Home.

Benny R Miles SR

January 1, 1931 - June 18, 2023