O'Dale Junior Miller

O’Dale Junior Miller, 42, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, passed away on February 26, 2024, after a long illness of type 1 diabetes since he was 15 years old. He had been on dialysis for the last 2 years due to complications of diabetes.  He was born on January 13, 1982, to Olan and Phyllis (Butler) Miller in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Before graduating from Wellston High School in 2001, O’Dale attended Gordon Cooper Technology Center to study automotive repair.  He worked several years at Walmart stocking meat and at the Dollar General store until his health prevented him from working anymore.  His wife became his care giver during his declining health.

O’Dale’s first child and the love of his life, Kadence Marie Miller, was born in November of 2008.  In 2012 O’Dale reconnected with Serena Ponder and they were married on February 23,2013.  They were blessed with a son, Drake Bradley Miller, in May of 2013.

After becoming disabled, O’Dale spent his time with Kadence and Drake, playing games, cooking, eating Mexican food, going to the lake and park, and watching movies with wife, Serena.  He loved OSU football, Dallas Cowboys football, and wrestling. His favorite quarterback was Tony Romo, and he loved the wrestler, ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin.  O’Dale loved to play 8 ball pool with his sister, Rochelle, in person until he was no longer able.  He loved his dad, Olan, and they enjoyed fishing and watching Dallas Cowboys’ games together.  O’Dale loved to call his dad and sister after the bedlam games to talk about what went wrong with his OSU Cowboys (unless they won and then it was bragging rights).  He loved to play football with his nieces and nephews and other kids.  He just loved life even when he was sick.

Family was extremely important to O’Dale.  He would visit his mom, Phyllis, as often as he could until his health prevented him from doing so.  He loved his momma's cooking and he talked to her on the phone almost three times a week. His sister, Rochelle, talked to him every day or every other day just to see how he was doing and if he needed anything.  His brother, Brian, always helped O’Dale fix his car or other stuff.  Earlier in life, O’Dale went to the Assembly of God Church in Wellston where he was baptized, and as an adult, he faithfully attended Life Church in Shawnee. He loved to attend church with his wife, kids, sister, and anyone else he could convince to go. 

O’Dale was predeceased in death by grandparents--Henry and Mildred Miller, Ray and Martha Bulter; uncles--Richard Miller, Ken Hurst, Willis Carothers, Frendo Ochoa; aunts--Roberta Peterman, Elnore Miller, Martha Butler, Janice Hurst, Nona Lafaye, Vickey Ballew; cousins, Michael Butler and Scotty Butler; nephew, Beaux Miller. 

O’Dale is survived by wife, Serena Miller of the home; children, Kadence and Drake Miller; fathers, Olan Miller and Dayne Garrett of Wellston; mother, Phyllis Miller of Meeker; brother and family, Brian and Joanie Miller of Wellston; sister, Rochelle Malone (Shane Wyatt) of Slaughterville; grandmother, Juanita Smith of Chandler; nieces, Cassidy Malone and Sophia Miller of Wellston; nephews, Luke Malone of Meeker and Henry Miller of Wellston; also, Uncle Nathan Miller of Wellston, Aunt Audry Ochoa of Oklahoma City, Uncle H.L. Miller of Slaughterville, Scott Butler of Wellston, Dennis Butler of Chandler and many other family members and a host of friends. 

Visitation will be Friday, March 1, 2024, from noon to 7:00 p.m. at AE Funeral Services Chapel, 603 W. Independence St., Shawnee, Oklahoma 74804.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024, 1:00 p.m. at Cornerstone Baptist Church, 960955 S. Highway 102, Wellston, Oklahoma 74881.  Interment will follow at Rossville Cemetery, Meeker, Oklahoma.