Gary E. Miller, 55, Anne Elizabeth Miller (Hewitt), 54, and Kristopher Sperry, 30, passed away tragically in a house fire on Monday, Aug. 16, 2010.
Gary and Anne were married in Reno, Nev. on July 8, 2002, and had made their home in Zillah.
They were a very unique couple in that both worked for the Washington State Patrol, Gary as a State Patrolmen and Anne as the manager of the State Patrol Emergency Center in Wenatchee.
Anne was born in Prosser, the daughter of Vernon Eugene and Lora Lynn (Reed) Hewitt. She graduated from Prosser High School with the class of 1974.
Anne obtained an Associate's degree in law and justice from Yakima Valley Community College. She began her career with the Toppenish Police Department and was hired by the Washington State Patrol on Jan. 26, 1987, as a communications officer assigned to Yakima. On Jan. 27, 1988 she was promoted to Communications Officer 1 and to Communications Officer 2 on Jan. 16, 1993. On Jan. 1, 2004 Anne was promoted to Communications Officer 3, remaining in Yakima. Her last promotion was Feb. 16, 2007, to Communications Officer 4, assigned to Wenatchee.
They loved the ocean and had recently celebrated their eighth wedding anniversary at Ocean Shores.
Gary and Anne loved to barbeque and entertain friends and family. Many hours were spent playing pinochle with friends, Bud and Linda Walker.
She is survived by one son, Jason Gould of Ft. Worth, Texas; two sisters, Kathy (Doyle) Cunningham of Bellingham and Pat Hewitt (Stephen Hawbaker) of Prosser; one brother, Gene (Laura) Pittman-Hewitt of Port Orchard; four nieces, Tamara (Jason) Pulfer of Tampa, FLa., Heather (Jarod) Blankenship of Tacoma, Dyanna (Christopher) Dick of Tacoma and Vanessa (Michael) Gustafson of Ferndale; a God-sister, Cherry (Mitch Morris) Fairbanks of Sunnyside; and five great-nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Gary was born April 5, 1955, in Akron, Ohio, the son of Thomas Benton and Georgia Louise (Parsons) Miller. He graduated from Sierra High School in Whittier, Calif. in 1973.
He served in the U.S. Army for three years.
Gary attended Central Washington University in Ellensburg, where he began his career in law enforcement as a reserve deputy for the Kittitas County Sheriff's Department.
Gary was hired by the Grandview Police Department in 1979 and worked until Dec. 11, 1989, when he joined the Washington State Patrol as a trooper cadet assigned to Yakima. He transferred to the training division on Jan. 29, 1990 to attend the 70th Trooper Basic Training class.
On June 20, 1990 Gary was commissioned and assigned to District 3 in Sunnyside. He served for more than 20 years with the Washington State Patrol.
Gary was a state patrolmen but his passion was painting houses and told his son following retirement he would like to become a professional house painter.
He loved to golf and they looked forward to taco Wednesday with friends at Stonehenge in Zillah.
Each morning Gary would start his day with a cup of coffee at Chevron West in Zillah and a little chit chat with Angela. He then made his way to the 10-4 Café in Grandview for more coffee, more friends and a good time.
He is survived by one son, Benjamin (Marty) Miller of Bonnie Lake; one daughter, Sherry Miller of Spokane; four grandchildren, Andrew, Tyler, Ryne and Darby; two sisters, May Louise (James) Dau of San Diego, Calif. and Deborah May Bissette of Apple Valley, Calif.; two brothers, Thomas Benton Miller of Arkansas and Robert Allan (Deborah) Miller of Phoenix, Ariz.
Gary was preceded in death by his parents; and one son, Steven Miller.
Memorial services will be held Friday, Aug. 27, 2010, at Yakima Valley Sun Dome, at 1 p.m.
If you wish to send flowers they must be delivered to the Sun Dome on Friday, Aug. 27, 2010, by 8 a.m.
Those wishing to honor Gary and Anne and Kristopher's memory may contribute to Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 7554, Olympia, WA. 98507.
Those wishing to sign Gary and Anne's online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com
Smith Funeral Home in Sunnyside is in charge of arrangements.
