Maurice Jarvis "M.J." Miles, age 92, passed away on April 28, 2000, in Henderson, Nevada, due to causes incident to age.
He was born November 24, 1907 in St. George, Utah to George E. and Josephine Jarvis Miles. He married Mary Lyon of Overton, Nevada, on June 5, 1931 in the Salt Lake Temple.M.J. graduated from Dixie Jr. College as valedictorian in 1928. In 1930, he graduated from BYU with a BA in chemistry and then taught at South Cache High School in Hyrum, Utah. He received his MA in chemistry in 1933 from the University of Utah and did further study at four other universities. In 1933, he began to teach at Dixie Jr. College and taught there until 1953.
While teaching at Dixie Jr. College, M.J. was involved in the Rotary Club, was a charter member of the Lion's Club, volunteered for the St. George Fire Department, and was elected as Councilman for the City of St. George. He was also active in the St. George Chamber of Commerce.
In 1939, M.J. became a Civilian Pilot Trainer and was in charge of a wartime contract to train pilots. His trainees were known as "The Dixie Hell Cats," and he had the supervision of 96 pilots training at the St. George Airport. In time, he had a commercial pilot's license, a flight instructor rating and a flight examiner rating. By 1943, he and his partner, Bert Covington, had six airplanes and a flight school. It was sold in 1949.
During some summers, M.J. worked at Dugway Proving Grounds as assistant chief of the chemical warfare laboratory. He then took a job with Timet at the titanium plant in Henderson, Nevada, where he became chief chemist and supervised six steel company labs. He held this position until 1970. The University of Nevada then hired him to start a lab in Boulder City to service a large EPA contract given to Desert Research Institute. He was then offered a contract as a consultant to rejoin the Timet Corporation, where he worked until he was almost 80 years of age.
M.J. is survived by his wife, Mary L. Miles; three daughters, Mary M. (W. Dean) Lindsay of Salt Lake City, UT; Helen (Dr. Maynard) Rasmussen of Hooper, UT; Carol (Joseph C.) Vincent of St. George, UT; and seven sons, Dr. M. Howard Miles (Joan) of Pullman, WA; Dr. Daniel W. Miles (Lenore) of Washington, UT; Dr. Melvin H. Miles (Linda) of Ridgecrest, CA; Dr. Robert E. Miles (Leslie) of Arvada, CO; John Miles (Kathy) of St. George, UT; William L. (Bill) Miles (Naomi) of Brigham City, UT: Clark W. Miles of Salt Lake City, UT: a daughter-in-law, Emily Miles of West Jordan, UT; 56 grandchildren and 39 great-grandchildren.
Preceded in death by his parents; four
brothers, George J., Henry J., Walter J., and Heber J.; two sisters, Mary Miles Kleinman and Ann Miles Fuller; a son, Dr. Douglas L. Miles (Emily); and one granddaughter, Natalie Miles.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on May 2, 2000 at the Fairview Ward Chapel, 303 Cholla, Henderson, Nevada. Friends and relatives may greet the family at the chapel one hour prior to services.