David Wayne Miller passed away with his family at his side on Wednesday, April 6 ^th , 2022. David was born May 13, 1951 in Duluth, Minnesota to Norman and Margaret Miller. When David was 5, the Miller family relocated to El Paso, Texas, where Norman was stationed at Fort Bliss. In his younger years, David loved playing baseball and riding his bike with friends. In his years at Burgess High School, David served as drum major, kicking off his lifelong passion for music. After graduating from high school, he attended University of Texas El Paso and "majored" in playing cards at the university cantina. In 1974 David decided to take a break from the university, and joined a local band, which eventually became Westwind. From the years of 1975 to 1979 Westwind traveled all over the United States, and even ventured to Greenland for a gig at an army base. It was during his traveling years that David discovered his love for reading, devouring J.R.R. Tolkien, Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, and Stephen King novels, among many. In 1976 David met his future wife Debra, who was immediately smitten after watching David sing "Desperado" at the Sandpiper Inn lounge. David and Debra were married on April 11 ^th , 1981. Although he no longer traveled, David continued to play in local bands and became a construction superintendent for Winton Homes in El Paso. It was at this time that David and Debra welcomed the first Bogart into their life, who was a cocker spaniel that refused to leave their doorstep. David attended English classes at El Paso Community College, where another lifelong passion was brought to life, English and Literature. After David and Debra were both offered jobs with HOSTS, they relocated to Houston, Texas in 1990. David joined a local band called Guilty Party, where he made lifelong friends and made many memories as a musician. In 1996 David and Debra were blessed with two daughters, Lauren and Juliana.

David continued his education at University of Houston Downtown, where he received his bachelor's degree in English. In the summer of 2001, the Miller family welcomed the second Bowgarte into the family, who was a loved member of the household for 16 years. David and Debra's nephew, Derek, joined the family in 2003. Further pursuing his education, David received his master's degree in 2004 in English from the University of Houston Clear Lake. After leaving HOSTS, David began working for Hewlett Packard as a writer. He also worked as an adjunct faculty member for Lonestar College Tomball in the early 2000s and was hired as a founding faculty member for Lonestar College University Park in 2012. During his time there, he served as a department chair and taught courses in freshman composition, technical writing, and literature. He was co-chair for the Uproar Magazine, a literary magazine published by the university. In August of 2021 David retired from the university. He was a beloved professor and a role model for the hundreds of students who passed through his classroom doors over the years. David's greatest love was his family, and he took immeasurable pride in being a husband and a father. He was adored by many and will be missed by all.

David is preceded in death by his father Norman Miller, mother Margaret Miller, and brothers Ronald and Steven Miller. He is survived by his wife Debra Miller, daughters Lauren Miller and Juliana Miller-Spears (Tyler Spears, expecting son Stetson Wayne Spears), nephew Derek Haygood (Amy Haygood, Harper Haygood), niece Charlene Becker (Matthew Becker, Braddock Becker, Claire Becker), nephew Chason Miller, mother-in-law Ida Olmstead, brother-in-law Sean Olmstead (Tim Rasmussen, Presley Rasmussen), niece Erica Haygood (Mackenzie Haygood), sister-in-law Denise Haygood-Blevins (John Blevins, Madison, Mackenzie, and Bethany Blevins), sister-in-law Diane Haygood-Schact (Austin Schact, Amber Schact-Harvey). We appreciate John Anderson and Greg Oaks for sharing their memories, and we appreciate Derek Haygood, Chason Miller, Sean Olmstead, Tim Rasmussen, John Anderson, and Byron Little for serving as pallbearers.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation for all the heartfelt prayers, love and support we have received over these past few weeks. Each one has blessed and comforted us in so many different ways. We always knew how special David was to everyone in our family, but we are learning that he was also special to so many others as well. We are so grateful that you are sharing all of these stories and memories with us. Knowing that he had such a positive impact on so many during his lifetime makes his absence easier for us to bear. He will always be missed, but he will never be forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, you may also make a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.