EAST PEORIA ~ Woodrow "Woody" Miller, 85, 2501 Allentown Road in Pekin, passed away at 8:50 a.m. Saturday, July 17, 2010 at Hallmark House Nursing Center in Pekin.  He was formerly of East Peoria.

Born Jan. 13, 1925 in Corning, Ark. to E.G. and Edna Blanche (Smith) Miller, he married Carol L. Webster on June 29, 1963 in Creve Coeur.  She died Jan. 24, 2004 in Peoria.  He also was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Vickie LaScelle; one son, Bobby Beard; one grandson, Jerry Maddox, Jr.; two brothers and one sister.

Surviving are four daughters, Loretta (Jerry) Maddox, Henrietta (Richard) Stanley, Penny (Denise Baker) Slusher and Tracy (Jimmy) Bannon, all of Creve Coeur; two sons, David (Janice) Miller of Pontiac and Kenneth (Joanne) Miller of Peoria; fourteen grandchildren; eighteen great-grandchildren; one brother, David (Elaine) Miller of Georgia and five sisters, Ruby Lind of Belvidere, Dalfie Bailey, Mary Pace, Dorothy Welch, Annie May Holder, all of Calif.  He also leaves a daughter-in-law, Rhonda Beard of Missouri.

He was a World War II Army veteran.

Woody worked at Caterpillar, Inc. for 36 years in the skilled trades, retiring in 1984.  He then worked several years as a machinist for Wiese Engineering.   He also did work as a carpenter, auto mechanic and as a handyman.

Woody enjoyed gardening.   He formerly was a member of Creve Coeur Southern Baptist Church.

His visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Creve Coeur.  Cremation will be accorded following the visitation.  There will be no funeral.

Memorial contributions may be made to Tazewell Animal Protective Society, 100 Taps Lane, Pekin, IL 61554 or to Alzheimer's Association, Central Illinois Chapter, 606 West Glen Ave., Peoria, IL 61614.