Biography: The working people of Arkansas lost a friend and advocate on July 21, 2009 when Ellis Jearld (“E.J.”) Miller died in his sleep at his home in Little Rock. A memorial to E.J., a long-time labor leader and activist, will be held from 4:00 to 5:15 p.m. Monday, July 27, at the union hall of the United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 2008, 7924 Interstate 30, Suite A, in Little Rock. Following the service there will be a wake with food and drink from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Little Rock Oyster Bar, 3003 West Markham Street. E.J. was born in El Dorado October 29, 1951 and graduated from El Dorado High School in 1969. After high school he moved to Little Rock where he worked as a machinist at the Allis-Chalmers (Siemens) factory. E.J. had a passionate desire to work for justice on the job for all workers and within eight months of his employment at the factory he began working with Local 1113 of the International Union of Electrical Workers. He served as Chief Steward and Secretary/Treasury for the Local and was its President for nine years. In 1985 E.J. became an International Representative for the IUE, now IUE-CWA. While serving in this role he wore many hats. E.J. served as Director of Political Action for the district of his union that included Arkansas. He organized workers for the union from California to Massachusetts. He worked for months on a large campaign at Raytheon in Boston, Massachusetts often standing in the snow in his cowboy boots outside the plant talking with workers. E.J. was a master negotiator and was chosen by the union to lead a number of complicated multi-plant negotiations with employers. He had recently successfully concluded a series of such negotiations. In addition, he serviced many contracts. The workers at the Sanyo plant in Forest City were the recipient of his skills in fighting to maintain and expand their wages and benefits. He was respected by those who represented employers and sat across from him at the negotiating table. E.J. was a well known and sought after teacher of workers. He served as Director of Education for the District of his union and taught classes on labor related topics throughout the country. His dry wit and brutal honesty on behalf of workers were appreciated by many. Often he would break out his guitar to sing union songs and he played with many of the best labor troubadours in the country. He served as an advisor to the Labor Education Program at UALR. E.J. understood the importance of common efforts for all those who do not wield power in the state and the nation. To that end he was one of the founders the Arkansas's Citizens First Congress. He was active with the Arkansas Public Policy Panel and served as its co-chair for many years. E.J. is survived by his wife Carolyn “Skip” Mabe-Miller, his loving daughter Linsey Miller who is a student at Hendrix College, his mother-in-law Betty Mabe, and his brother Dennis Miller, wife Christie and daughter Jordan. Those wishing to honor E.J. may make a contribution to the Arkansas Public Policy Panel, 1308 W. Second Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201. Online guest register, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.