by Linda Miller Clark

Fred Royce Miller Sr., son of Fred Eugene and Lillian "Lilla" (Rivers) Miller, was born February 15, 1901, in Searsmont ,Waldo County.  Lillian "Lilla" (Rivers) Miller Fred Royce Miller, Sr.      Fred Eugene Miller

Fred was soon joined by three sisters, Irva May Miller, Vena Minnette Miller and Ruth Emaline Miller. Lillian " Lilla"  (Rivers) Miller    Verna Minnette Miller     Fred Royce Miller, Sr.

Fred was born at the home of his maternal grandparents Joshua and Susan (Andrews) Laughton Rivers.  Fred’s maternal grandmother Susan (Andrews) Laughton Rivers died in Searsmont, Maine on April 22, 1909 at the age of 70 , when Fred was 8.  Susan was born in St;. George, Maine the daughter of George and Mary (Cook) Andrews of St. George, Knox Co., Maine.                                                       Joshua Rivers b. 1841 St. George, Maine d. May 9, 1907 Searsmont, Maine
Susan (Andrews) Laughten Rivers Wife of Joshua Rivers Died Searsmont, Maine April 22, 1909

George Warren Miller b. September 9, 1853 Boston, Mass

George was born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 9, 1853.  He was the son of James M. Miller, a sea captain from Belfast, and Anna Maria Goodale/Goodell.  He married Elizabeth 'Lizzie" Agnes Brown of Chelsea, Massachusetts. The marriage took place in Chelsea on August 5, 1874.  They were both 20 at the time.  At the time of their marriage George was staying in Boston with relatives.  He had worked for the railroad in Belfast at one time but was injured. George and Elizabeth had six children: Fred Eugene Miller, Harry Josiah Miller, Gilbert Warren Miller, George Percy Miller, and two daughters who died of tuberculosis.   Elizabeth herself  died of tuberculosis at age 38.  George later married Elzora Drinkwater of Lincolnville. Although George was born in Boston he spent most of his adult life in Belfast, ME.

George Miller worked for the railroad and was also a caretaker for the Hazeltine’s. Fred used to like to go to the stores where his father worked so that he could help him in the store and to go on out deliveries with him when the horse named Bogus was used.

Fred attended elementary school in Searsmont, then attended Searsmont High School for just one year, and then went to Belfast High School where he graduated in June of 1920. During Fred’s senior year in high school he applied to Boston University where he was accepted for a four year program to study for a bachelor's degree in Business.  Fred was anxious about leaving the small and close knit community of Searsmont to go to Boston but it took Fred only a short time to get adjusted to the big city and get settled in.  He played for Boston University’s baseball team and was a member of the Maine Club.  He did very well in College and made honor grades.  He graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration.  Fred was the first child born in his family and the first child to graduate from college.  This was a major accomplishment for a young man from a small rural town in Maine who knew that his parents could barely scrape up the money for him to attend.  When Fred did get back home to Searsmont, while on school breaks, his parents loaded him up with food, clothes and whatever else they thought that he might need

After graduation Fred went to work in Boston for Dunn and Bradstreet.   He did well well until the stock market crashed.  Fred returned to Searsmont to try to make a living. Fred went to work at the Simmons store in Searsmont with his father doing the best that he could to make a living.

Fred came from a long line of family members in which the men were Masons and the women were Members of the Eastern Star. Fred’s father Fred Eugene Miller was elected and installed as Senior Warden on October 20^th 1914, then on October 18, 1915 he was installed as Wishful Master, and on October 19, 1916 he was again appointed Wishful Master.  

Fred became a Mason with the Quantabacook Lodge No 129- Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Maine.  Fred received the Entered Apprentice degree on January 3, 1925 and then the Fellowcraft degree on January 17, 1925, then the 3^rd Master degree February 7, 1925.  On October 20, 1928 Fred was elected and installed as Senior Deacon, then on October 12, 1929 he was installed as Junior Warden which was the 3^rd ranking at the Lodge.  When Fred moved to Portland he joined the Masonic order there.

A short time after returning to Searsmont  Fred got a job as a salesman in Bangor. The route that he had covered Machias, Searsport and other areas up through Washington County. One day while Fred was in Machias he decided to stop for lunch and when he did he met Marguerite Beverly.  Marguerite had been working for Barstow and Crane. Fred and Marguerite Beverly continued to see each other and eventually were engaged.  On Saturday, August 21, 1926 Fred married Marguerite Eunice Beverly of Machias, Maine in Machias, Maine.  Marguerite was the daughter of Walter and Mary Betty (Petersen) Beverly of Machias, Maine.  They initially lived in Bangor following their marriage but went to Searsmont to live shortly thereafter.

Walter Herbert Beverly Marry Betty (Petersen) Beverly Grandchildren Beverly Ruth Miller Fred Royce Miller, Jr. Robert Elliott Miller

Marguerite Eunice (Beverly) Miller Fred Royce Miller, Jr. Searsmont 1927	Their first child Fred Royce Miller Jr. (known as Royce Jr.) was born, April 10, 1927, in a house beside the Searsmont Methodist Episcopal Church.  The next year, on July 23, 1929, their second son Robert Elliott Miller was born in Belfast, Maine.  In 1931, a daughter Beverly Ruth Miller was born in Belfast, Maine and in 1935, another daughter Judith Winifred Miller was born in Machias, Maine in 1937. In August 10, 1932, Fred’s paternal grandfather George W. Miller died in Belfast, Maine.  George’s first wife Elizabeth "Lizzie" (Brown ) Miller had died on November 16, 1892 of consumption (tuberculosis). Fred’s sister Vena Minnette (Miller) Cobb, wife of Maurice Cobb, died in Portland, on February 8, 1933, at the age of 30, following complications of childbirth.  Vena left her husband Maurice and three children Wilfred, Donald, and Lawrence Cobb.
		Maurice Cobb Vena Minnette (Miller) Cobb Lawrence Cobb   Wilfred Cobb

Fred and Marguerite Miller were living at 109 High Street in Newton Upper Falls, Massachusetts in early 1934.  On February 21, 1934, Fred Royce Miller Sr. was notified by his father Fred Eugene Miller, of Searsmont, Maine that his mother had suffered a slight shock.  Fred’s mother Lillian "Lilla" (Rivers) Miller died the following day from a cerebral hemorrhage.  Fred and his family left for Searsmont for the funeral.

Fred Eugene Miller                                                                                             Taken August 8, 1895                                                                                            Age 20

Fred Eugene Miller                           b. Boston January 18, 1875                          d. Searsmont April 27, 1937

Fred and Marguerite later moved to Portland and Fred went to work at the New England Shipbuilding Co.   When Fred and Marguerite moved to Portland they lived in a house near the corner of Maine Avenue and Washington Avenue in Portland.  In the early 1940's Fred and Marguerite bought a house at 34 Hall Street in Portland, Maine in the Deering Section.  He worked in the East Yard in South Portland during World War II. On January 24, 1945 a steel plate was accidentally dropped from a crane and it fell on top of him.  The accident crushed and tore off part of his shoulder , fractured his clavicle and three ribs.  Fred was in the hospital for some time and the family went through a tough time, both emotionally and financially.  Marguerite took in ironing to do, did RINSO ads for Lever Bros, canned vegetables and made jelly and did whatever she could to earn money.

When Fred recovered he went to work for John J. Nissen Baking Company on Washington Avenue in Portland.  He worked there for many years as a foreman.  He would bring home day old bakery products and products that had not come out right.  He especially liked to bring home apple turnovers, day old bread and doughnuts.  He eventually  retired from Nissen’

Fred was a well read man.  He loved to read the classics.  He had a collection of David Copperfield books that he treasured dearly.  One of his favorite Maine authors was Ben Ames Williams.  He especially liked the book "Fraternity Village" . Among the magazines that he liked to read were Downeast Magazine, Reader’s Digest, The Saturday Evening Post and Life and Look magazine. The Farmer’s Almanac was a must have each year and he read it thoroughly and referred to it often.  He subscribed to Portland Press Herald and the Portland Evening Express.  He read the newspapers from cover to cover and his day was not complete unless the newspaper was read.  He always had piles of things to read that were stacked on an end table beside of his easy chair by the fireplace. Fred’s fireplace had the most unique andirons.  The were two black owls with big yellow eyes and when the fireplace was going the eyes of the owls would glow.

Fred was a tinkerer.  He spent many hours around his home at 34 Hall Street in Portland always trying to fix and improve things.  He loved to look after his yard, trees and bushes. He had a beautiful mountain ash tree and lovely lilac trees. His lilac trees were admired by many friends, neighbors and relatives.  Whenever Fred was done working around the house he would go to his easy chair and relax and read.

On March 28, 1948, Fred learned that his sister Irva May (Miller) Howard had died.  Fred was aware of the difficult situation that his sister had been living in. Irva had a very troubled marriage and out of desperation and deep sadness Irva took her own life by committing suicide in the St. George River in Searsmont. Fred was deeply saddened over his sister’s death.  Fred was very close to his sister Ruth and they visited each other as often as time permitted.

Fred and his son Fred "Royce Jr." were members of the Portland Masonic Club at 609 Ocean Avenue in Portland, Maine.  They attended Masonic Meetings and also all of the social events that were offered for the masons.  They always went together and enjoyed being with each other.  Fred kept diaries or journals most all of his life.  Everyday he would make an entry about what happened that day and what he did that day, a note about a family birthday or anniversary etc.  Fred always noted the weather and what the high and low temperatures were that particular day.

Fred Royce Miller, Jr. b. Searsmont April 10, 1927 d. Portland December 17, 1988

Fred purchased a color television in the 1960's.  He bought a Motorola Quasar television that was new and innovative.  Family and neighbors came over to his house to see the new TV. Family members would gather at Fred’s house to watch movies like The Robe, The Ten Commandments and of course the wonderful Christmas specials in color that featured Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Dean Martin , Frank Sinatra, etc.  He would always enjoy having the grandchildren come up to his house to watch the children’s Christmas special like Rudolph.

During the 1960's Fred purchased a Polaroid Camera.  He was very pleased to be able to have this camera and would take pictures of everyone who visited him.  Back then he had to wait for the picture to develop and then open a cylinder shaped little container that had the fixative for the picture.

Fred was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox and was thrilled at being able to go to Fenway Park in Boston for the World Series in 1967 with his son Fred Royce Miller Jr.  He always said that going to the World Series was one of the greatest things that he was able to do in his life.

After Fred retired from the John J. Nissen’s Bakery he worked around the house and tried to enjoy his retirement but after while he got bored.  He got a part time job for Casco Bank and Trust Company in Portland to be a courier.  He worked a route that went from Portland to Conway, New Hampshire.

In 1976, Fred and Marguerite celebrated their 50^th wedding anniversary at the summer camp of their son Fred Royce Miller Jr. in Bridgton, Maine.  All of the family were able to attend and Fred and Marguerite had a wonderful time.

Fred and his wife loved to go and visit their daughter Judy and her family in East Boothbay, Maine.  They always went up to Boothbay for Windjammer Days.

Fred suffered from severe migraine headaches all of his life.  The headaches would make him very sick and he would to go to bed in pain.  In 1980, after suffering from what was originally referred to as "fits" by his wife and determining that the "fits" were really grand mal seizures, he was taken to the hospital by ambulance for further evaluation. Fred had a brain tumor.  This news struck the family very hard. I say especially hard because Fred’s wife Marguerite had been diagnosed with lung cancer in November of 1980.  Marguerite was given six months to live and Fred was diagnosed with the brain tumor at about the same time.  With profound courage and the love and support of his family Fred under went brain surgery and had the brain tumor removed.  Fred went through an extremely rough time.  Brain surgery at age 80!!  The tumor was a benign meningioma.  The whole family rejoiced at the good news and continued to help Fred get back on his feet again so that he could help his beloved Marguerite.

Marguerite’s health was declining rapidly.  The chemotherapy and radiation were making her very sick.  Fred tried his best to care for the love of his life and also try the best that he could to try care for himself without being a burden to anyone. In April 13, 1981 , Marguerite started to fail rapidly and was transferred by ambulance to Maine Medical Center.  Marguerite died the next morning at 9 AM. Fred had lost his beloved Marguerite and deep sadness and sorrow had besieged him.

Fred continued to have health problems.  His gait was off from the brain surgery and it was felt that he should have someone live with him.  Unfortunately Fred’s health continued to decline and he was in need of better care.  Shortly after that time Fred had a stroke and needed to be in a skilled care facility.  After careful consideration Fred went to live at Falmouth By The Sea Nursing Home.  Fred Royce Miller Jr. arranged to get his father a bed by the window at the nursing home. Fred Royce Miller Jr. made sure that his father had everything that he needed or wanted.  He bought him a large color television, had a phone installed, had his favorite end table and easy chair.  Fred Jr. also brought in Fred Sr.’s favorite reading light.

Fred’s health was declining, he had two strokes along with several other medical problems including a fractured hip in April 1982.  On November 15, 1982, Fred Jr. went out to the nursing home after he got out of work at 3:30pm  They visited for well over an hour and Fred Sr. encouraged Fred Jr. to go home for supper and come back later on as it was starting to snow.  Fred Jr. went home to eat supper and was just finishing up and getting ready to go back to the nursing home,  when the nursing home supervisor called and said that Fred Sr. had passed away.  The nurse said the time of death was 5:00 pm. Fred’s watch had stopped ticking at exactly 5:00pm. Fred had died at the age of 81.

When Fred died he was survived by his sons Fred Royce Miller Jr., Robert Elliott Miller and daughters Beverly Ruth (Miller) Cole and Judith "Judy" (Miller) Cook.  He also had 15 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

A funeral was held with Masonic Rites and Fred Royce Miller Sr. was buried beside of his wife Marguerite (Beverly) Miller in the Memorial Park Section of Evergreen Cemetery, Lot #149.

Fred Royce Miller Sr, was my "Grampa Miller"

and Fred Royce Miller Jr. , was my father.