Jewel “Jay” Angel Miles
December 24, 1940 – January 4, 2024
Jewel Angel Miles (Jay) finally dispelled the rumor that he was immortal by giving up the ghost early in the the morning of January 4th, 2024. He left in his sleep while holding his wife’s hand.
Jay was born at home in San Jose, California on December 24, 1940. He spent most of his youth in the Bay Area having adventures with his siblings, family and friends. Actually, the adventures never ended!
By helping his dad, he learned to be quite a mechanic, which became very useful for maintaining his many classic and family vehicles, motorcycles and dirt bikes (which he rode fearlessly), as well as his various airplanes. And let’s not forget his boat which saw adventures in San Francisco Bay and Bear Lake among other places.
His mom encouraged him to become an accomplished musician, something he rocked at throughout his life. He played trombone in the USAF band from 1957 to 1961. While stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska, he met and married Sharlene Green, who was homesteading there with her parents and siblings. He entertained many by playing trombone in the Murray Symphony, and the bass in several jazz bands. He even took 1st place in 1962 at the Northern California Church Festival for Mixed Quartet. His last musical gig was singing in the Happy Trails Gang in Malad, Idaho, where he and Sharlene lived for 10 years.
He was constantly learning, obtaining several degrees, as well as his Real Estate license. He was a firefighter (Captain, Chief and Fire Marshall) in California and Utah from 1962 until he retired in 1998. Cool, eh? That was something his kids could always brag about!
His firefighter schedule allowed him to take many extended drives with his family, and sometimes the Boy Scout troop. Jay converted a school bus into a motorhome, which was the mode of travel for some of these excursions. Sometimes it was a drive from San Jose to grandparents place in Idaho. Sometimes a spontaneous drive would end up in Oregon or Mexico! His last trip was a last minute ride to St. George to celebrate his 83rd birthday.
Jay was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and served in many callings, from Scout Leader, Stake Seventy, Sunday School teacher to Greeter. He married his sweetheart Sharlene in the Salt Lake Temple in 1960 for time and all eternity.
He was known by family, friends and all he met as a very outgoing, sociable, friendly man. He reached out and helped so many along the way. He was an unstoppable “Energizer Bunny” who just kept going and going.
He is survived by his wife, Sharlene and 6 children. Jonathan J. (Lisa) Miles, Jeffrey G. (Melanie) Miles, Robert O. (Sara) Miles, Julie Catherine (Drew) Pettis, James R. (Jodi) Miles, Michael J. (Eulalia) Miles. As well as 18 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren (and one on the way!). Brother Thomas W. (Carol) Miles, and sister Joyce E. (Steve) Lazenby. And many nieces and nephews that love him.
Jay was preceded in death by his parents, Jewel and Ora Catherine Jordan Miles. Brothers Kenneth Dennis Miles (Denny), Robert L. Miles (Bob) and Martin John Miles (Marty).
Funeral Services will be held at 12:00, Saturday, January 13 at the old Stake Center Chapel at 400 N. 200 W., Malad, Idaho. Friends may visit with family at the chapel from 10:30 – 11:45. Family prayer will be at 11:45.
For those that would like to attend but can not, the funeral services will be streamed online at: https://youtube.com/live/IZxBT4HopSc?feature=share
The family expresses their gratitude for the condolences and support during this difficult time.