Michael Victor Miller passed away on May 28, 2023, at Avamere Health and Rehab Facility at Sequim, Washington.
Mike lived his life like his favorite movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Family, trapping, hunting, fishing is how he will always be remembered in our hearts.
Mike was born Sept. 6, 1946, in Aberdeen to Olga V. (Dujmov) Dennis and Herman “Vic” Miller. He attended Hoquiam High School and later earned his GED from Grays Harbor College. He married and later divorced Sandra Yates.
Mike joined the Army in 1966, doing 6 years in the Army and Army Reserve. Upon discharge from the military, he worked for Hoquiam Plywood and in 1973 started working for Grays Harbor Veneer, working for them until the plant closure in 1995.
Mike and Constance Knaus were married in 1976, and later divorced but remained close friends. After the veneer plant closure, Mike worked for Ocean Spray, Simpson Door and the Aberdeen Juvenile Detention Center.
Mike was a die-hard Los Angeles Rams fan along with much love for the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners. One of the highlights of his life was watching his idol Mickey Mantle play at Yankee Stadium in 1967. Mike’s love of the game had him playing softball for the Polish Club and the Ace of Clubs Tavern.
Mike’s favorite job and last employment was with RC&D Fish and Wildlife Habitat Restoration which put him in his natural environment of his love for the outdoors. If Mike wasn’t hunting/fishing (being the expert fisherman that he was ) or playing baseball, he would be trapping. From the time Mike was a young kid he could always be seen running trap lines on the East Hoquiam and Humptulips rivers. Mike was a longtime member of the Washington State Trappers Association and was representative of the association along with his good friend Darryl Druzianich. He also helped teach a trapper training class for the Washington Department of Game. He was a member of the National Rifle Association, the Teamsters and the IWA.
Mike will be remembered for his great sense of humor, kind heart and his love to dance and sing.
Mike is survived by his daughter Teresa Miller (Nick Mobley) of Sequim, brother Craig (Rose) Gallington, stepbrother David (Natalie) Dennis, stepsister Gloria (Ron) Salmon, stepbrother Jeff Miller of Olympia, granddaughter Andrea (Arthur) Smith, grandson River (Hannah) Hardin, six great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his sister Debbie Dennis, mom Olga Dennis and dad Vic Miller.
Mike is also survived by his caregivers Connie Miller and Robert Dalrymple.
Interment with military honors will be Friday, July 14, at 1 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Park in Hoquiam followed by a celebration of life at 2 p.m. at the Hoquiam VFW Club.
Honorary pall bearers include Veterans Robert Dalrymple, Walter Lukowski and David Dennis, brother Craig Gallington, Nick Mobley and River Hardin.
