Obituary for Carleton G. Miller
Millinocket and Brewer – Carleton G. Miller, 97, died peacefully in the presence of his family and close friend and neighbor, Lorna Pike on January 30, 2022 at his home in Brewer, Maine. Born on June 3, 1927, in Waltham, MA, to Robert Ernest Miller and Goldie Agnes Parnell, Carleton graduated from Burlington High School in 1942, and immediately joined the war effort, enlisting in the Navy. He served as a Fire Controlman, Second Class, on the USS Omaha, USS Vermilion, and the USS Portsmouth. He was honorably discharged after 6 years of service in 1948. He treasured his memories of his years of service and was grateful and surprised at age 92 to be invited to join fellow Veterans to participate in the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. to visit the WWII Memorial.
Carleton expressed fond memories of his childhood, growing up among nine siblings, three brothers and five sisters, in Burlington, MA. Even in later years, he enjoyed recounting stories of the hard work and joyful memories of their home and family. In reviewing his letters home from his time in the service, his care and affection for his family of origin was evident.
After the war, Carleton met and fell in love with Neva Buckingham of Millinocket, ME. They were married in January of 1950. They moved to a home in North Reading, MA where they had their first two children. They moved to Millinocket, ME in 1953 and Carleton worked for Wakefield Ready-Mixed Concrete Co. at Loring Air Force Base. When a job opened at Great Northern Paper Company, he joined the ranks of the mill workers, and was proud to call himself a paper maker for nearly three decades. Two more children were born and with the help of his father-in-law, Leonard Buckingham, he built a home on 53 Winter St. where he and Neva raised their family. Carleton and Neva went on to have one more child, and remained in this home for nearly 60 years. He and Leonard also built a family camp on nearby Ambajejus Lake that generations of his family would go on to enjoy.
A man of simple faith, Carleton led a quiet life, tending to his own business, working hard with his hands, always willing to lend a helping hand. He was seldom idle, always building, planting, repairing, maintaining, or moving something, including endless granite rocks at the family camp. He will be remembered for his building ingenuity, using as he always did, whatever he had on hand. Who could forget the “baby buggy barbeque grill” or the one-of-a-kind, jerry-rigged bathroom sink at camp? He was a man of many hobbies including root beer making, which later transitioned into wine making, baking, music, photography, and stained glass. And his garden! How he worked on that - rejuvenating the sandy soil, tilling and constantly adding to it. He and Neva spent many hours pickling and preserving. He tended, planted and harvested a garden up to his 90th year. A long-time member of the Millinocket First Baptist Church, he leaves his family with a legacy of faith. Carleton will be remembered for his quick wit and sense of humor, his playful spirit, and his honest and forthright disposition.
Carleton was predeceased by his parents; his wife Neva and son John; his brothers, Robert P Miller, Kenneth J Miller and his wife Ripley; his sisters, Jean Miller, Patricia Spencer and husband Buddy; brother-in-law, Thomas Clark; and son-in-law, Joe Jenkins. He is survived by his brother William Miller and wife Lillian, his sisters, Barbara Clark, Evelyn Hunsley, and Joyce Fay and her husband Al; four children: Nancy Noyes and her husband Bob, Carleton Jr. and his wife Karen, Sheila Goetz and her husband Bob, and Avis Jenkins; 13 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Many thanks to the Millinocket First Baptist Church, the Solstice community, Shepherds’ Kids, Stearns Assisted Living community, Visiting Angels, Ellen Leach community, St. Joseph’s Home Care and Hospice, Mike McLain, Tout Murphy, Dolly Chesley, and Dr. John Patten. Donations in Carleton’s memory may be made to the Millinocket First Baptist Church. Funeral services in memory of Carleton will be held in the Spring of 2022 in Millinocket, ME. Details to be announced at a later date. Arrangements are by Lamson Funeral Home, Millinocket.
Carleton expressed fond memories of his childhood, growing up among nine siblings, three brothers and five sisters, in Burlington, MA. Even in later years, he enjoyed recounting stories of the hard work and joyful memories of their home and family. In reviewing his letters home from his time in the service, his care and affection for his family of origin was evident.
After the war, Carleton met and fell in love with Neva Buckingham of Millinocket, ME. They were married in January of 1950. They moved to a home in North Reading, MA where they had their first two children. They moved to Millinocket, ME in 1953 and Carleton worked for Wakefield Ready-Mixed Concrete Co. at Loring Air Force Base. When a job opened at Great Northern Paper Company, he joined the ranks of the mill workers, and was proud to call himself a paper maker for nearly three decades. Two more children were born and with the help of his father-in-law, Leonard Buckingham, he built a home on 53 Winter St. where he and Neva raised their family. Carleton and Neva went on to have one more child, and remained in this home for nearly 60 years. He and Leonard also built a family camp on nearby Ambajejus Lake that generations of his family would go on to enjoy.
A man of simple faith, Carleton led a quiet life, tending to his own business, working hard with his hands, always willing to lend a helping hand. He was seldom idle, always building, planting, repairing, maintaining, or moving something, including endless granite rocks at the family camp. He will be remembered for his building ingenuity, using as he always did, whatever he had on hand. Who could forget the “baby buggy barbeque grill” or the one-of-a-kind, jerry-rigged bathroom sink at camp? He was a man of many hobbies including root beer making, which later transitioned into wine making, baking, music, photography, and stained glass. And his garden! How he worked on that - rejuvenating the sandy soil, tilling and constantly adding to it. He and Neva spent many hours pickling and preserving. He tended, planted and harvested a garden up to his 90th year. A long-time member of the Millinocket First Baptist Church, he leaves his family with a legacy of faith. Carleton will be remembered for his quick wit and sense of humor, his playful spirit, and his honest and forthright disposition.
Carleton was predeceased by his parents; his wife Neva and son John; his brothers, Robert P Miller, Kenneth J Miller and his wife Ripley; his sisters, Jean Miller, Patricia Spencer and husband Buddy; brother-in-law, Thomas Clark; and son-in-law, Joe Jenkins. He is survived by his brother William Miller and wife Lillian, his sisters, Barbara Clark, Evelyn Hunsley, and Joyce Fay and her husband Al; four children: Nancy Noyes and her husband Bob, Carleton Jr. and his wife Karen, Sheila Goetz and her husband Bob, and Avis Jenkins; 13 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Many thanks to the Millinocket First Baptist Church, the Solstice community, Shepherds’ Kids, Stearns Assisted Living community, Visiting Angels, Ellen Leach community, St. Joseph’s Home Care and Hospice, Mike McLain, Tout Murphy, Dolly Chesley, and Dr. John Patten. Donations in Carleton’s memory may be made to the Millinocket First Baptist Church. Funeral services in memory of Carleton will be held in the Spring of 2022 in Millinocket, ME. Details to be announced at a later date. Arrangements are by Lamson Funeral Home, Millinocket.