William Maurice Miller

William Maurice Miller, 87, of Leesburg, Florida, passed away Saturday, January 11, 2014, at Cornerstone Hospice House in Sumterville, Florida.

Maurice was born December 5, 1926, in Judsonia, Arkansas. He attended schools at Nettleton where he was a two-year All-District basketballer. He entered the U.S. Army before college and played service ball for the Third Army Headquarters, helping win the European Military Championship and earning All-European All-Star honors.

Maurice graduated from Arkansas State University with a BSE degree in physical education in 1950. He received a master's degree in PE from Ole Miss in 1956 and did post-graduate work in education in Wyoming in 1957. His career included coaching stints in Arkansas at Piggott and Trumann and Missouri at Caruth and Kennett. He served as principal in Perryville and House Springs, Missouri. He served as PE department chairman in Kirby, Missouri Hazelwood and administrative assistant at Perryville. Following his career in education, Maurice served as assistant manager of the state employment office in Paris, Tennessee.

Maurice was a 1986 inductee into the ASU Athletic Hall of Honor. He was a three-sport letterman at ASU from 1946-1950 as a member of the basketball, baseball and track teams. He was a four-year starter on the basketball squad with 1463 career points which places him 8th on the all-time standings. He averaged 19.8 points per game his senior season which was 25th best in the nation that year. Maurice still holds the school record of 17 free throws made in one game.

Maurice never lost a race in two seasons on the track team. He was a member of the 1949 and 1950 squads and ran the 220, 440, and mile relay, and was also the long jumper and high jumper. He held the school record in the 440 which stood 17 years. He led ASU to two state track titles and was the top individual points scorer both years.

Maurice was a member of The Villages church of Christ in Lady Lake, Florida. He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirlene Miller, sister Marie Park, nephew Clyde Wayne Williams and brother-in-law, Clyde Williams.

Survivors include a sister, Kathryn Williams, nieces: Sheila (Bob) Shumpert, Sherry (Willie) Simpson, Sandra (Donald) Barker, Kathy Williams, Shirley Park and Reba (David) Dye, a sister-in-law, Darlene (Holmes) Phillips all of Jonesboro. Other survivors include his church family and friends at Highland Lake Community in Leesburg.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in Emerson Memorial Chapel with Jimmy Young officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Zion Cemetery near Walcott. Active pallbearers include Donald Barker, Brad Shumpert, Holmes Phillips, David Dye, George Dillon and Sonny Thompson. Honorary pallbearers include Harry Park, Bob Shumpert and Willie Simpson.

There will be no visitation.

For lasting memorials the family asks that consideration be given to the Paragould Childrens Home, 5515 Walcott Rd., Paragould, AR 72450, or to a Hospice program of the donor's choice.