FARMER CITY, Ill. — Maurice Welby “Pedo” Miller, 87, of Farmer City, passed away on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at 3:40 a.m. at Farmer City Rehabilitation & Health Care.

A graveside memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 29, 2021, at Maple Grove Cemetery, Farmer City, with Pastor Dave Ashby officiating. Military rites will be accorded. There will be no visitation.

Memorials may be made to Joe Williams American Legion Post 55 Farmer City, Ill., Fred G. O’Malley V.F.W. Post 6190 Farmer City, Ill., or Farmer City Masonic Lodge 710. Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home of Farmer City is assisting the family with arrangements.

Known as “Pedo” by anyone who knew him, he was born on February 26, 1934, in Farmer City, a son of Welby Frank and Minnie Marie Johnson Miller. He was the eighth child of nine. He attended the Farmer City school system.

Ten days after his graduation from high school, he joined the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He proudly served 14 months in Korea. After his military discharge, he became a meat cutter for the IGA food services. He was a meat cutter for approximately 50 years.

He married Lila Shaffer from Clinton, on July 11, 1964, in Kenney, Ill., and adopted her five children as his own, and they later had a baby girl to complete their family. Lila passed away on November 25, 2014.

Pedo became an alderman in Ward 2 with a write-in vote and won, and served for 12 years. He then proceeded to run for Mayor of Farmer City and won that election, an office in which he served 12 years.

He is survived by his six children, Johnny Miller of Corbin, Kentucky; Bonny (Fred) Dorries, of Champaign; Frank Miller, of Clinton; Tamara (Ricky Blanck) Miller, of Rantoul; Lisa Lofaso, of Lincoln; and Jennifer (Jason) Lewis, of Bloomington.

Also surviving are his seven grandchildren, Adam (Sara) Osborne, of Clinton; Matthew (Gwen Altshue) Miller, of Bloomington; Michael (Nina) Dorries, of Chicago; Joshua Dorries, of Sidney; Cole Lofaso, of Loganville, Ga.; Rhett Miller, of Bloomington; Katie (Isaac) Fridel, of Mesa, Ariz.; five great- grandchildren, McKenna, Anna, E’va Miller, of Champaign; and Aaliyah and Lily Osborne, of Clinton.

Pedo was preceded in death by his wife, Lila Miller; parents, Welby and Minnie Miller; great- grandson, Travis Miller; four brothers, Francis, Hal, Harold, and Joe Miller; four sisters, Irene Wilson, Rosemary Miller, Marietta Martin, and Margaret Brown.

Pedo was a member of the Joe Williams American Legion Post 55, Farmer City; Fred G. O’Malley V.F.W. Post 6190 Farmer City; Farmer City Masonic Lodge 710; and Knights of Pythias, Farmer City.