Donald Gene Miller, 88, passed away on September 12, 2024, at his home in Orange, Texas.
Born in Nocona, Texas, on February 27, 1936, he was the son of Robert “Bob” Anthen Miller and Elva B Davis. Following his parents’ divorce, Don experienced a unique childhood, alternating school years between his mother in Baytown, TX, and his father in Oklahoma. In his youth, Don was gifted a used guitar, and his passion for music flourished, leading him to attend Sam Houston State University, where he earned a Master of Music. There, in the Bearkat Marching Band, he met his wife of 26 years and the mother of his five children, Myra Trimble.
A talented musician, Don began his career as a high school band director while also playing trumpet in dance bands around the Austin area. As his teaching assignments moved, he played at various clubs in Texas, including the renowned Balinese Room in Galveston. Don moved his family to Orange in 1967, where he directed the sweepstakes-winning Lutcher Stark High School Band and the Miller High Life Jazz Band. After the high schools merged, he directed the West Orange-Stark High School Band, where he composed an arrangement of the William Tell Overture, transforming it into the Mighty Mustang Fight Song.
A man of many interests and talents, Don earned his private pilot’s license with an instrument rating and logged over 1,200 flight hours. He enjoyed sharing adventurous stories of his flying experiences which usually included one of his children. Later in life, Don discovered a passion for sailing, which led him to obtain the USCG Charter Boat Captain license and a celestial navigation certificate. Before losing his sailboats in Hurricane Ike, Don made sure his grandchildren experienced the joy of sailing by sending them to sailing camp. After the hurricane, he shifted his focus to teaching friends and family to play guitar, finding immense satisfaction when they developed a lifelong hobby or pursued a music career. Playing alongside his son and grandsons was one of his greatest pleasures.
In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by his half-siblings, Bobby Miller, Mildred Miller Copeland, Alma Faye Miller Davis, and Sharon Miller Lewis. He is survived by his children Kathy Reeves (Ken), Karen Smith (Doug), Kelley Borel (Ron), Steven Miller (Kelle), and Dana Cart (Sam), grandchildren Travis Reeves, Kurt Reeves (Eve), Matt Reeves (Shauna), Clint Lloyd (Danielle), Haley Lloyd, RaeLynn Graffagnino, Angela Kinnear, Andrew Borel (Erika), Alex Borel, Bryan Miller, Jacob Miller, Nathan Miller, David Cart, Abby Cart, and numerous great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, October 5, 2024, at First Baptist Church Bridge City.
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