I have a real fear my obituary will read like this.

Steven Miles lived alone except for his cats and his books.

He rarely spoke. He never drove. Often he took the bus.

"His cats were his family. He loved them, and he loved books."

Every room of Miles' modest home was filled from floor to ceiling with books and magazines, many that he had ordered from all parts of the world.

"Sometimes Steve would call to say he was going to be late because his books had tumbled over during the night, and he had to dig his way out to the front door," Brown said.

Brown said he probably knew Miles best because he had known him so long.

"But there really wasn't that much to know," Brown said.

"He smoked a pipe. He was originally from Kansas. He has an elderly aunt in Mound City, Kansas. He wasn't married, and he had no children.

"But he didn't mind his life. That's just who he was, and he was OK with that."