Donald G. MILLER

A shining star went out and left a big hole in our family.

Donald "Don" Miller passed away on February 17th, after a valiant battle with heart complications following surgery. Don was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Alice and Ernest Park. His parents divorced and Alice then married James Miller, who adopted Don and his older brother, Charles. His adopted father was in the USAF, so they moved frequently to different duty stations. Don attended his first year of college in Germany and then transferred to a school in California. He graduated from Cal Berkeley with a degree in criminology and enrolled in AmeriCorps Vista program. He was placed in Seattle at King County Juvenile Court as a probation counselor. He also served as a consultant to many Juvenile Court Conference Committees around Seattle. During Don's time in King County, he met his soul mate and best friend, Karen Winston. They cherished their years together. They admired and loved each other until his death.

After 16 years at juvenile court, Don made the decision to go to law school. He graduated cum laude from UPS/Seattle U and immediately moved to Spokane to work at the U.S. Federal Court. He became licensed to practice law in Washington and Idaho and then gained a contract with DOC as an attorney, providing services to incarcerated individuals. He served his clients well with his deep knowledge of criminal and constitutional law and analytical abilities.

Don loved music of all kinds, but especially classical. He curated a huge library of (mostly) classical music. He played guitar and sang – mostly for friends and family. He could deliver a mean rendition of "Spirit of New Orleans." He was knowledgeable about computers, having custom-built more than a few. Don was always up for the challenge of a home improvement project. Don and Karen had a house on Spirit Lake, ID, for many years and enjoyed boating and spending time with their many friends there. At one point, they travelled to Ireland, where they both fell in love with the people, the music, and the history.

Don was a gentle, kind, and generous soul. He was a gourmet who loved good wine and good food. For years, he sang and played guitar at St. Stephen's Church. He was an active member of the Advance Sheets group of lawyers and judges at Spokane Superior Court, the ACLU, and was thoroughly enmeshed in political activities in the city and the state. He loved a good political argument.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Charles; and his son, Ryan. He is survived by his wife, Karen; his daughter, Lara Miller; and stepchildren, Kevin Shuba (Nicole), Stacey Gaumond (James), and Stephanie Baumann. Also, his grandchildren, Samri, Channing, Stone, Alex (Brittany), Austin (Ryan) Shuba, and Zach and Noah Baumann.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Spokane Symphony, the ACLU, or a charity of your choice. A celebration of a life well lived will be held at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, at 11:00 AM, on March 15, at 5720 S. Perry, Spokane.

Good night sweet Don! May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.