Gary Eugene Miller, age 83, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 5, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. Born on April 12, 1941, to Homer Howard and Zona Marie Miller, Gary resided in the Delaware area of Ohio until relocating to Sanford, Florida, in 1974.
In his early years, he excelled in sports, participating in his high school’s golf, football, and track and field teams. He was also a member of the high school band’s percussion section, often alternating between playing on the field with his teammates and marching in half-time with the bass drum. Gary left school in his senior year, following his father’s passing, to run the family business and care for his mother and younger sister.
Shortly after, he was introduced by a friend to a young woman named Donna who would go on to be the love of his life and wife of 64 years.
Gary and Donna went on to have two children of their own, a son and a daughter, who share fond memories of fishing trips, baseball practice, and toboggan runs built in the snow with their father.
In his adulthood, Gary spent time working as a mechanic, though his talents reached far beyond turning wrenches. A true craftsman at heart, he could build, repair, or restore just about anything. He owned and operated a commercial sharpening business, Sanford Sharp-All, and co-owned the antique store A Step Back in Time.
Over the years, Gary and his adult children lovingly bought and restored thirteen historic homes in the Sanford area, with his “Sweets” Donna as the creative director. Each home is a testament to his incredible eye for detail and unmatched work ethic. Whether he was replicating a piece of furniture from a photo clipped out of a magazine or bringing new life to forgotten spaces, Gary’s hands and heart shaped every project he touched. There was truly nothing he could not do.
Perhaps his greatest accomplishment, though, was simply being a wonderful grandfather. His calm demeanor and saint-like patience earned him the nickname of “Baby Whisperer,” as even the fussiest of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren seemed to find peace in his presence. From playing games to building teepees to endless rides around the yard in wagons or wheelbarrows, there was nothing Gary would not do to make his family smile. And after the fun was over, he could always be counted on to say yes to ice cream.
Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Zona Miller. He is survived by his loving wife, Donna Miller; son Jeffrey (Kelly) Miller; daughter Lorrie Kovac; sister Pamela Williams, niece Tracy (Danny), nephew Steven Williams Jr. (Laura), grandchildren Kathleen McKelvery, Chandler Miller (Jackie), Jesika Rohrbach, Allison Miller, Lauren Miller; and nine great-grandchildren, all of whom he cherished deeply.
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