Mr. Stanley Lawrence (Stan) Miller, Sr. : Obituary

Stanley Lawrence (Stan) Miller, Sr., 82, passed away peacefully on June 9, 2016, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s. He was at home in Ellijay, surrounded by family, including his devoted wife of 59 years, Florence (Flo) Miller; their three children, Larry, Julie, and Joe; and grandchildren Elizabeth Miller, Joshua and Tyler Schoonover, and Owen and Graham Miller. Also present were loving in-laws Mary Nevins Miller, Sherri Herring Miller, and Charles Davis. Stan, known as “Sonny” to family and friends in his younger days, was born in Baltimore on February 4, 1934. He was the second child born to Frances Gutman and Stanley Curtis Miller, joining his older sister, Patricia. He grew up playing sports and the guitar, and also worked as a paper boy. He joined the navy in 1952, which enabled him to see a bit of the world and study electrical engineering. He then attended Western Maryland College and the University of Maryland on the GI Bill, becoming the first in his family to attend college. In 1957 he married Flo, continued his education, and began raising a family. Always good with numbers, he became an insurance actuary, and worked for USF&G (United States Fidelity and Guarantee) and the state of Maryland insurance department. An avid fisherman, weekend family trips to Harper’s Ferry, Virginia, were routine, as well as to other Maryland rivers and lakes. Stan was a die-hard Baltimore Colts fan, and he also coached both sons in some of their Little League exploits. He had a fine sense of humor, always enjoying a good (or even not-so-good) joke. His favorite advice to his grandchildren was, “Eat your dessert first—that way you always have room for it.” In 1972 the family moved to the Atlanta area, where Stan became a deputy insurance commissioner for the state of Georgia. He worked for three different commissioners, and was highly regarded for his policy expertise and firm moral convictions. He often assisted consumers with insurance problems, and eventually obtained a law degree. This enabled him to deal more effectively with the (not always friendly) lawyers, usually hired by insurance companies, who sometimes visited his office. The family also discovered the Florida Gulf Coast, where many memorable vacations took place. He and Flo retired to Ellijay in 1996.

Stan was always willing and able to help any family member or friend who needed assistance. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and will be missed by all who knew him.

The family would like to thank Melanie Sluder, who has lovingly cared for Stan and Flo for the past year.

A memorial service will be held at Bernhardt Funeral Home in Ellijay at a later date.