Phillip H Miller was born September 12, 1952 in Cedar City, Utah and passed away April 29 of renal failure and complications from diabetes.
Phillip grew up in Parowan City. He graduated from Parowan High School. He loved the friends that he made there and maintained those friendships throughout the rest of his life. His father taught him to love the outdoors, he loved fishing and hunting with family a kept up those hobbies as long as he was physically capable; even being wheeled out to the lake to fish. In 2016 Dad was still deer hunting with the help of family and friends. It exhausted and strained him but he smiled and loved every minute of it. Phillip was a great teaser, a pincher, and a knee squeezer, much to the chagrin of his sisters and especially his wife.He told corny jokes to everyone he saw. April Fools Day was his favorite day to lovingly torment his neighbors with increasingly elaborate April fools jokes. Phillip was a lifelong member of the LDS church. He served an LDS mission to the Alberta/ Saskatchewan Mission in Canada. Phillip loved singing in choirs and doing genealogy. His church was his foundation and great love and he was always ready to serve where needed in his ward and stake.
Phillip also loved math, and science. He studied both at SUU, earning a BS there, and a masters degree in educational administration from BYU. He taught high school in Duchesne where he also met and married the great love of his life Sheila (Smith) Miller. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on July 1, 1978. Phillip also taught at Granger High School and finished at Copper Hills High School. He also taught driver’s ed, and college algebra at SLCC and he also did taxes for up to 120 people during tax season. He showed all of his children what hard work was. He would drag us boys out to shovel the driveway and take us to the neighbors to help. During the summers when school was out he kept working. Driving a bakery truck one summer and starting a metal recycling another. He loved teaching chemistry and math to his students. He worked and worked and worked, and that selfless legacy burns bright in his children’s memories. He loved computers and gadgets and television and movies. Phillip loved golf and often played with his friends and family. Even after losing his leg he continued to golf and didn’t let that slow him down. He was such a hard worker and served his neighbors and friends selflessly.
Phillip developed Type II diabetes about 1991. He went through a range of hardships and a nearly unending stream of hospitalizations and illnesses. However he still managed to keep working far longer than he should have. This disease ravaged every part of his body but his spirit remained strong. He could be grouchy, but would be easily teased into good humor.
Phillip is survived by his wife, Sheila, his children Josh, Lexiann, Brian (daughter Stella), Daniel, Eric ( wife Kendra and daughters Aaliyah and Kira) and Zachary; siblings Gary (Cherrie), Marsha Robinson (Dean), Vicki Rowley, Cathy Payne and numerous loved nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by parents Robert Austin Miller and Florence Robb Miller.
We love you, Phillip, always.
Viewing Friday night, May 5, 2017 from 6:00 to 8:00 at Poppy Lane Chapel, 9501 south Poppy Lane in Sandy. Funeral on Saturday April 7 at 11:00 am. Viewing one hour before. Address is 1050 east Galena Drive across from Egdemont Elementary School.Service Information
Viewing May 5, 2017 at 6:00-8:00 pm
9501 South Poppy Lane, Sandy, UT 84094
Viewing May 6, 2017 at 10:00 am
1050 East Galena Drive, Sandy, UT 84094
Funeral Service
May 6, 2017 at 11:00 am
1050 East Galena Drive, Sandy, UT 84094