Miles R Stearns, age 80, of Mt. Vernon Washington, died and went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday evening, September the 12th, 2010 at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mt. Vernon Washington. He was born on June 11, 1930 in Buffalo New York to Miles and Mary Stearns Sr. Miles met J. Marie Johnson while serving his country in the US air force. On August 13, 1954 they were united in marriage in Cadott, Wisconsin and together they celebrated 56 years of marriage. With Marie at his side Miles pastored churches in Howard, South Dakota, Grand Island Nebraska, and Wapato, Washington. Later Miles served for eight years on staff as Minister of Pastoral Care in the Philadelphia Church in Seattle, Washington . In addition to his wife Marie, he is survived by his three daughters and two sons & their spouses: Mrs.Leslie O'Laughlin (Mike) of Mt. Vernon, WA, Mrs. Bonnie E. DeKrey (Ron) of La Crosse, WI, Mrs. Teresa M. Linder (Mike) of Miami, FL, Mr. Courtney M. Stearns (Ann) of Woodinville, WA, and Mr. Paul J. Stearns of Mt. Vernon, WA. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Joel DeKrey, Karlie Herring, Katie Burgess, Natalie Fansler, Tyler Linder, Brian O'Laughlin, Kelley Stearns, and Carl Stearns, plus six great grandchildren, and his sister, Mrs. Naomi Nudd from Canandaigua, NY and 4 nieces. Miles loved all his family deeply and was loved greatly in return. He touched many lives and was a pillar of strength to all who knew him. A memorial service celebrating Miles' life will be held at Calvary Baptist Church, 324 Avon St in Burlington, WA on Sunday, September 26th, at 2:30 pm. Directions: Take Burlington Blvd to Hwy 20, turn East, it's about 3 blocks from the High School. Arrangements are under the care of Hawthorne Funeral home, Mount Vernon. Please share your thoughts of Miles and sign the online guest register at www.hawthornefh.com. Miles will be missed but we know we will see him again some day. I am the resurrection and the life, He who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. John 11: 25, 26 RSV