Donald Gene Miller

February 27, 1936 to September 12, 2024

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Donald Gene Miller, 88, passed away on September 12, 2024, at his home in Orange,
Texas.
Born in Nocona, Texas, on February 27, 1936, he was the son of Robert Anthen
Miller and Elva B Davis. Following his parents divorce, Don experienced a unique
childhood, alternating school years between his mother in Baytown, TX, and his father
in Oklahoma. In his youth, Don was gifted a used guitar, and his passion for music
flourished, leading him to attend Sam Houston State University, where he earned a
Master of Music. There, in the Bearkat Marching Band, he met his wife of 26 years and
the mother of his five children, Myra Trimble.
A talented musician, Don began his career as a high school band director while also
playing trumpet in dance bands around the Austin area.  As his teaching assignments
moved, he played at various clubs in Texas, including the renowned Balinese Room in
Galveston. Don moved his family to Orange in 1967, where he directed the
sweepstakes-winning Lutcher Stark High School Band and the Miller High Life Jazz
Band. After the high schools merged, he directed the West Orange-Stark High School
Band, where he composed an arrangement of the William Tell Overture, transforming it
into the Mighty Mustang Fight Song.
A man of many interests and talents, Don earned his private pilots license with an
instrument rating and logged over 1,200 flight hours. He enjoyed sharing adventurous
stories of his flying experiences which usually included one of his children. Later in life,
Don discovered a passion for sailing, which led him to obtain the USCG Charter Boat
Captain license and a celestial navigation certificate. Before losing his sailboats in
Hurricane Ike, Don made sure his grandchildren experienced the joy of sailing by
sending them to sailing camp. After the hurricane, he shifted his focus to teaching
friends and family to play guitar, finding immense satisfaction when they developed a
lifelong hobby or pursued a music career. Playing alongside his son and grandsons was
one of his greatest pleasures.
In addition to his parents, Don was preceded in death by his half-siblings, Bobby Miller,
Mildred Miller Copeland, Alma Faye Miller Davis, and Sharon Miller Lewis. He is
survived by his children Kathy Reeves (Ken), Karen Smith (Doug), Kelley Borel (Ron),
Steven Miller (Kelle), and Dana Cart (Sam), grandchildren Travis Reeves, Kurt Reeves
(Eve), Matt Reeves (Shauna), Clint Lloyd (Danielle), Haley Lloyd, RaeLynn Graffagnino,
Angela Kinnear, Andrew Borel (Erika), Alex Borel, Bryan Miller, Jacob Miller, Nathan
Miller, David Cart, Abby Cart, and numerous great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, October 5, 2024, at First Baptist
Church Bridge City.