James Randolph Miles

James Randolph "Randy" Miles of Muskegon, Michigan passed away on August 30 at home in the company of his family. He was born September 9, 1940 in Philadelphia, MS to John and Queenie (Crenshaw) Miles. He was preceded in death by his parents and his older sister and brother-in-law Patricia and Frank Brantley of Nashville.

Randy graduated from The University of Southern Mississippi in 1962 and was soon on a 32-hour bus ride to Muskegon, where he accepted a position with the M.A.I.S.D. as a speech therapist. It was a dramatic shift in his life versus his rural southern upbringing but he grew in many ways and grew to love this area (minus the snow!) Randy quickly lost his southern accent when one of his first speech students told him- "Mr. Miles, you don't talk none so good yourself."

In 1968 Randy was hired by Mona Shores Schools where he remained until retiring in 1993. "Mr. Miles" was impactful in the lives of countless students and families in his roles as speech therapist, middle school track and football coach, high school football and volleyball referee and statistician. Being young in body and spirit he embarked on a second career selling pre-paid phone cards to convenience stores in western MI for 20 years until technology overtook his product. He loved meeting store owners from different cultures and hearing about their customs and life stories.

Enriching his life immensely was watching, nurturing, and impacting the lives of his two granddaughters as they became accomplished young women. More recently he has been highly entertained by his two young great grandsons. His only regret in life was not being able to watch them grow up. Randy was always physically active and over the years he played handball, racquetball, and was most recently an avid and dedicated pickleball player. He always joked that his pickleball buddies only had first names. As Randy dealt with failing health his loyal pickleball friends showered him with chicken soup and many enjoyable visits.

Favorite pastimes include; reading voraciously (especially Abraham Lincoln), tending to his garden, hiking at Hoffmaster State Park, card games, travel, watching the Lions and Tigers and shopping for the Christmas "Bag Game" of 20 plus years. Quick with a joke and a funny saying, Randy was witty, competitive, generous, grateful and loved making friends.

He is survived by his wife of thirty-six years Cynthia Miles, his son Jason "Jay" Miles of Connecticut, his daughter Carol Miles of Kentucky, his stepson Damon (Shannon) Gillies, Granddaughter Kaycee (Joseph) Hommel and great grandsons Joseph, Matthew, and coming soon baby James (named after his great grandpa) and granddaughter Emma Daugherty. It was Randy's wish that there be no service.

Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon