Donald Leon Miller

Donald Leon Miller, 79, of Pitt Meadows, BC, was released from his pain and suffering due to cancer, while at hospice, on Sunday April 10, 2022. 

Don is survived by his loving wife of over 58 years, Carolyn, daughter Lee Wear (Glenn), daughter Cathy Wickham (Dave), son Darren Miller (Colleen), son Dennis Miller (Hazuki), daughter Lori Mueller (Sandro), 14 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, his sisters, Louise Ehrenholz (Walter, deceased), Dianne Brooks (Pat) and many other cherished family and friends. 

Don was born at home during an air raid, in Vancouver BC, on September 29, 1942. His parents were Leon and Edith Miller, who stated, "His first cries were louder than the air raid siren!" Don remembered hearing the drone of warplanes as he played in his backyard when he was a boy. He loved playing outdoors with his neighborhood friends, "the brothers he never had", Bob, Norm, Billy, Rob, Ralph, Don, and David. 

Don loved to tinker with any type of machinery, which led him to study automotive repair at British Columbia Vocational School (BCIT), where his knack for "all things mechanical" allowed him to graduate first in his class. He enjoyed his tropical fish, his model railroad and RV camping, which allowed him and his family to travel across Canada and the USA. Music was woven into the fiber of Don's being. Having very poor eyesight, he would sit beside the family radio as a child and find comfort in sound. Don was artistic, enjoying painting, model building and wood carving. He loved to cook (and eat!) and those around him often got a good laugh in at his dry sense of humor! 

Don worked for 21 years at Zephyr Motors in Vancouver and for 16 years, was the owner of Integrity Auto Repair in Port Moody. Don was the founder of his home-based businesses, Harvest Communications and Plastique Engravers. When Don and Carolyn moved to Nanaimo in 2004, Don took a part-time job at VMAC, making air compressors, which he enjoyed. When they moved back to the mainland in 2007, Don continued to work, part-time, at Royalwood RV Park in Chilliwack and was manager of Wesley Manor in New Westminster, until his final move to Pitt Meadows in 2021. Don said "He always had a job” ... he liked working and it was only when his cancer had metastasized in the Spring of 2021 that he had to stop working. 

Don's greatest pride was in his faith and his family. Don embraced Christianity at the age of 17 while attending New Westminster Free Methodist Church and his faith in the Lord became his beacon for life. He was inspired by living and rubbing shoulders with many great people and enjoyed his role as a deacon and elder at Austin Avenue Chapel. Don lived a life of prayer and quiet giving. Don's faithfulness in our Lord was his highest calling and he loved the Lord with all his heart. We love you Don/Dad ... until we meet again ... We will treasure your impact on each of our lives. "Our life is but a moment in the morning of our day."

A celebration of life is scheduled for Thursday, April 28th at 1:00 PM at Hillside Community Church. 1393 Austin Avenue, Coquitlam, BC.