Jeffery Milner

Although he was taken from his loved ones without warning, Jeffery Milner lived his life on purpose each day. He was adventurous and hardworking, the sort of person who was never afraid of a challenge, and his zest for life was contagious to all who were near. Jeff was deeply devoted to his loved ones, and he worked tirelessly to create the life he felt they deserved. With an unwavering faith, his heart beat to serve those who had fallen on hard times, touching lives that were too numerous to count. Life was not without trials for Jeff, but his strength, courage, and determination were easy to see. Although he will be deeply missed, he leaves behind a timeless legacy that others will carry on in his footsteps. The 1960s were an eventful time in American history. We elected the young John F. Kennedy as our 35th President of the United States, only to mourn his death a short time later, and civil rights came to the forefront through Martin Luther King, Jr.s peaceful efforts. By the end of the decade it was the United States that was victorious in the space race as we put the first man on the moon. Amidst this exciting time was a time of excitement in the lives of Varney and Ruthann (Schnell) Milner for a much different reason as they were pleased to announce the birth of the baby boy they named Jeffery Scott on March 14, 1962, in Muskegon, Michigan. His father worked at Enterprise Brass Works while his mother stayed home to care for Jeff and his younger siblings, Rick and Laura. Raised in the family home on Beattie Road on the North side of Muskegon, Jeff was a typical young boy. It was quite an adventure there as the home was located on a Christmas tree farm. As the kids got older, this provided a wonderful opportunity to learn about hard work as they all helped maintain the farm. They attended nearby Dalton Baptist Church, and although they moved to Arkansas for a few years they soon returned to the family farm. It was while growing up that Jeff came to embrace the love of family as he loved visiting his grandmothers home in Cadillac and playing with his cousins. For school he attended Reeths Puffer High School, and in addition to holding down his studies he worked in the kitchen at several local restaurants. Jeff loved being in the kitchen and the restaurant business as a whole. He also developed a love for muscle cars and was often found working on them. Of course driving fast was also cool, but this didnt always work out so well for Jeff. After graduating from high school in 1981, Jeff had a very short stint in the United States Navy. However, they parted company when Jeff didnt get placed in the job he was promised. He then followed his heart back to the restaurant industry. New and exciting were in store for Jeff when he met a young woman named Judi Eagle while visiting his uncles home in Waterford, Michigan. She lived right next door, and they were soon dating. After falling in love, Jeff and Judi were married on November 9, 1985. They spent a couple of years living in Pontiac, but they then returned to Muskegon. Eventually, they built a family home on the property of the family farm. Jeff began working at the Eagle Ottawa Leather Company in Grand Haven, and together he and Judi welcomed two children, Justin in 1988 and Jillian in 1991, into their hearts and home. Their joy turned to great sorrow when Jillian developed brain cancer and died after a short battle in 1992. Although this was a very tough experience for Jeff, it greatly deepened his faith and brought him closer to his church. In 1993 they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Julie, and in 1996 their family was completed with the birth of Joseph. As a family they initially attended Dalton Baptist Church, but Jeff soon became a founding member of Crosswinds Fellowship Church. He even started to learn to play guitar and participated in services. Eventually, Jeff went back to the restaurant business, and he and his brother became managers at the Big Boy restaurant on Apple Avenue. In 1998, he had an accident and fell down a long flight of stairs at the restaurant, which left him with some brain damage. Jeff experienced significant memory loss and had to relearn almost everything. He underwent two years of therapy at Mary Free Bed Hospital in Grand Rapids with friends and family driving him back and forth nearly everyday. He finally recovered, and the family took a wonderful vacation to Disney World and a Caribbean cruise. Unfortunately, the whole injury and recovery took a toll on the marriage, and he and Judi divorced in 2001 with the children remaining in Jeffs care. He was completely devoted to his children and actively involved in their lives. They were the most important thing to Jeff, and he was there for all their events and activities. With growing opportunities on the Internet, Jeff joined an online Christian chat room where his daughter noticed a woman she thought her dad needed to get to know. Her name was Amy Anderson, and they began talking. She lived in the Detroit area, but they finally began seeing one another in person. Jeff proposed to her on New Years Eve in 2003, and they were married on May 1st, 2004. Also during this time, Jeff became good friends with Pastor Jerry Pimpleton from Shekinah Ministries. Eventually, he asked Pastor Jerry for help in becoming a pastor. Pastor Jerry mentored him, and Jeff became a pastor in 2011 with Amy also playing a vital role in Jeff completing his studies. He was eventually ordained in 2015. Jeff became involved with Forgotten Man Ministries and became a chaplain at area jails, spreading the Word to inmates. He and his wife were also very involved at Cedar Creek Alliance Church. Jeff was additionally involved with Westshore DeColores and volunteered at the Muskegon Rescue Mission. There were so many things that made Jeff truly unique. He was a diehard Lions fan through thick and thin as he was always sure that next year would be the year that they went to the Super Bowl! Jeff often played his guitar, and in 2010 the family took a memorable road trip out to California when Jeff made some of his favorite memories. Of course nothing was better than when his grandboy, Jace, was born last year. With unending love for his family and friends, Jeffery Milner was a blessing in the lives of everyone he met. He worked hard, but he played hard, too, and he made the most of whatever came his way. A man of faith, Jeff was generous beyond measure, and he enriched the lives of so many others in the process. Deeply loved, he will be forever missed. Jeffery Scott Milner died on February 1, 2016. Jeffs family includes his wife, Amy; sons, Justin (Nicole) Milner & grandboy, Jace Milner of Muskegon, Joseph Milner of Fort Bragg NC; daughter, Julie (Nathaniel) Gilbert of Muskegon; parents, Varney & Ruthann Milner of Muskegon; brother, Rick (Wendy) Milner of Greenville; sister, Laura Corbin of Muskegon; several nieces, nephews & cousins; former spouse, Judi (Randy) Hall. Jeff was preceded in death by his daughter, Jillian in 1992. Services will be held on Friday, February 5, 2016, 4:00 p.m. at Shiloh Tabernacle Church with Pastor Pat Ferreira officiating. Visit with Jeffs family and friends on Thursday, February 4, 2016, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorials can be given to the family. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.