Raymond K. "Rockin Ray" Miller

Raymond K. "Rockin Ray” Miller, 80, of Timberlake, passed away on May 11, 2019 with his sons and wife by his side. Ray was stricken suddenly with severe pancreatitis and bravely battled the disease for seven weeks before being called home by the Lord. He was born May 7, 1939, in Cleveland, and over the years, resided in Mayfield Village, Cleveland, Eastlake, and Timberlake. He was a 1957 graduate of Mayfield High School and was a U.S. Army veteran. Ray was an integral part of the Cleveland rock and roll music scene in the 1960s playing lead guitar for Tom King & The Starfires, Joey and the Continentals, and most famously for The Twilighters, who packed in crowds of up to 1,000 every weekend at local dance clubs. Their song, Be Faithful, was a top 15 regional radio hit. Ray retired from the City of Cleveland in 1988 after 30 years with Cleveland Public Power, working his way from junior draftsman to commissioner. After retirement, Ray spent his time writing country and polka songs, usually with a comedic slant. His polka, Grab Your Balls, We’re Goin Bowling, was an international hit and has been called by some as “the greatest polka song ever." You can find several cover versions of the song on YouTube. Ray also liked to share funny and political posts on social media; liked spending time with his many lifelong friends from high school, the band days, and work; and liked listening to rock and roll music from the 60s and 70s. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family, especially his 8-year-old twin grandsons. Ray was a happy soul who always tried to bring laughter into peoples’ lives. Ray is survived by his wife of 56 years, Diane Miller (nee Matic); sons, Daniel (Kim) Miller and John (Heather) Miller; and grandchildren, Justin, Daniel, Jennifer (Megan Boggs), Matt and Ryan Miller. He is also survived by his loving sister, Joann Keyston; sister-in-law, Janet Matic; nephews, Mike (Carol) Shaw, Scott (Heather) Cleland and Cameron (Linda) Cleland; and nieces, Terri Massucci, Marlene Seuffert and Cindy (Cory) Wilson. He also leaves behind many great nieces and nephews and a host of wonderful friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Keith and Dorothy Miller; sisters, Virginia Stalker and Noreen Jorgensen; nephews, Billy Benton and Carl Stalker; nieces, Linda Ippolito and Tina Shaw; and brothers-in-law, Fran Stalker, Craig Jorgensen and Lanny Keyston. The family will receive friends from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, at the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor. Cremation will take place at Ray’s request. Please offer condolences at www.brunners.com.