Richard Dean “Rick” Miller was a proud American who believed in helping people, especially those within his community. After working for ten years as a rigger in Pennsylvania, and then working in maintenance for 32 years in Ohio, he retired and moved to the place he fell in love with years before, Tennessee. After settling in, he was drawn to give back to his community. He joined the volunteer fire department, where he met his second family.
Rick enjoyed camping, riding his motorcycle, and watching drag racing and tractor pulling, many of which he did with his brother, Gary, and nephew, Jon.
Rick Miller was a devoted and loving family man. He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Debra M. Miller, his wife of 24 years. He left behind three daughters, Jen Miller, Steph (George) Norton, and Deb Randolph Miller (Keith Morrow). He also left behind his pride and joy, his grandchildren, Devon Randolph, Hayden Norton, Declan Norton, Breanna Norton, and Seamus Morrow; and his siblings, Gary Miller, Dennis Miller, and Diana (Jeff) VanCleve.
Even though Rick was a quiet man, you could always go to him if you needed advice on anything, whether it be something small or life changing. He was not afraid to let you know how he saw things and was also not afraid to give a little bit of tough love. He would say, “Don’t ask if you don’t want to know!”
Rick also loved his dogs. There was not an animal he met that did not become devoted to him and he to them. There is nothing that Rick could not make or fix. That was another joy in his life, tinkering. He was never without a project to do, whether it was to help someone out or just to keep busy. He said, “That is when you get old, when you stop moving.” He was a young 69 when he went to meet “the Spirit in the Sky.”
He loved his family, community, and country and will be dearly missed by everyone who was blessed enough to know him. He is loved beyond worlds and missed beyond measure but always and forever in our hearts.
Rick was an awesome guy and I came to depend on greatly at the fire department. I could have never imagined that the alarm call we made early on December the 1st, would be our last call together. R.I.P. my Brother, we will hold the line from here.
– Randall Blankenship