Kenny Miller

December 31, 2023, was the day I lost my best friend, my wonderful husband, the love of my life, Kenny Miller.

For four years Kenny had many threatening illnesses. In the last five months, tongue cancer was discovered. There was no hope of beating the cruel and painful disease. He was 93 and he has said he was "grateful to have lived this long."

Kenny wanted to live his last years in the wonderful home he built for the two of us that he loved so much, overlooking a beautiful meadow, surrounded by the cutest forest animals.

A few hours before Kenny passed away, he was very peaceful and to me he looked like an angel. His face was so beautiful, almost glowing, and it was free of wrinkles with no pain or aggravations.

He was born December 7, 1930, in Knoxville, Iowa. His father was Gabe Miller and his mother Katherine Miller (Ellerson). He had an older sister Margaritha, and a brother Robert. Some of you might have knowns his sister Donna and brother-in-law Jack Ulstad of Sisters.

Kenny, at the age of 5, lost his mother due to a boil on her elbow. The miracle of penicillin had not yet been invented.

His father raised his family with the love and help of the children's grandmother until they moved to Ontario, California, when Kenny was about 15. He graduated from Chaffey High School in Ontario. After graduation he joined the Navy and fought in the Korean War. His ship was the USS Stickle.

Kenny's father married Enid Small after Kenny graduated high school. They had Beverly Jean Miller, and Enid had a son from a previous marriage, Milton Calaway. After a few years, a large poor family needed help, so the Miller's welcomed 3-year-old Sharon to their family.

After the service, Kenny became passionate about riding motorcycles. He was fortunate to see much of the beautiful United States of America.

He worked for General Telephone of California that later became Verizon. We met there, and then married on May 19, 1984. You just had to look at this face to see he was a good, humble man.

Kenny took on an important role of raising our two children, Shannan (Baldridge) Hill, 17, and Johnny Baldridge, 13. We lived in Upland, California. In 1991, we moved to Sisters where we lived happily for 33 years until present.

During those years, one of Kenny's favorite things to do was to get together with several military men once a week in Sisters to have some good discussions and fun times.

Kenny also leaves behind Willa Hill, Jon, Jake, and James Baldridge, his four adorable grandchildren.

I, Sherry Miller, lost my heart that night, December 31, and we will all miss him terribly.