David Simpson Miller

David was born July 10, 1940, in Salt Lake City, Utah to his parents, Leon and Barbara Miller. He spent his childhood growing up in Granger, learning the value of work from his parents and spending lots of time adventuring with his best friend Vernon Morgan. He was a member of the Cyprus High School graduating class of 1958.

He set a wonderful example of service to others through his faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. He served a full-time church mission in the London, England mission. Upon his return, he married his eternal companion Tracey Jean Morris on July 10, 1963, in the Salt Lake Temple. He diligently fulfilled many positions in the church and especially enjoyed serving others as the Bishop of the Alma 6

th

Ward and as a member of the Stake High Council assigned to serve the single adults in the Stake. Later, he and Tracey served a full-time mission as housing coordinators in the Arizona Tempe mission.

He graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in Industrial Arts Education. He began his teaching career at Southeast Junior High School in Salt Lake City, spent several years at Chandler Junior High and finished his teaching career at Taylor Junior High School in Mesa. Through this he became a positive influence in the lives of hundreds of young people, not only teaching principles of construction, but also counseling, sometimes consoling, and especially loving those he taught. There were countless times his students would come to the house just to say hello and get a few extra minutes with Mr. Miller.

Dave was a cowboy at heart and as a young man he developed an absolute love for horses. He and his father together raised many fine Arabian horses. He loved going on rides with his cousin Larry and showing the horses at various events in Arizona and Utah. He was an excellent trainer and would spend long nights at the barn during foaling time.

David was a great provider to his family. In 1977, he began work on the Miller home at their horse property on Colt Road. It was an ambitious project; it took a little over a year to complete, but he built most of the home himself with some help from subcontractors and a lot of help from his good friend and neighbor Joel Myers. Dave used this, caring for the horses and countless other projects, to teach his children the values of work, performance, and absolute integrity.

David is survived by his wife Tracey, his children Shayne (Nyla), Sauna, Derek (Camille), Erin (Bruce), Tylan (Marcy), Cody (Kristen), Megan (Brian), his brother Terry (Shellie) and sister Margo (Brent), brother-in-law Hal Newman, 24 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Leon and Barbara, his brothers Lee and Steven, sisters-in-law Jackie Newman and Kathleen Miller, and his special uncle and aunt Jack and Ila Miller.

A Visitation and Gathering will be held Monday, September 18, 2023 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4346 S. Val Vista Drive, Gilbert, Arizona 85297 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm. A  Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at 10:00 am at the same location. Interment will follow at Gilbert Memorial Park Cemetery, 2100 E. Queen Creek Road, Gilbert, Arizona 85297.