Tom M. Miller died of natural causes at his home in Rollinsville, on July 3, 2024. He was reading, with his cat and dog nearby - doing what he loved.
He was born on September 20, 1946, in Beach, North Dakota to Roy Mac Miller and Lucille (Parker) Miller. Sister Nancy was born two years later. His parents worked in the U.S. foreign service. With their wanderlust, they traveled extensively and moved frequently. Tom went to school in Iran, Honduras, Ecuador, and Nigeria.
He graduated high school from The Judson School, Scottsdale, Arizona, where he was a boarding student and had his own horse. He loved the West and the cowboy life. His college days included college in Germany and Switzerland and the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he graduated with a BA in Political Science and International Relations.
After college, among other work, he co-owned and operated a leather shop in Boulder. In the 1980s, he escaped to the wild, elemental Rocky Mountains which he loved so much. He embraced the Colorado mountain life and left the flat land.
His passion for animals, love of nature, appreciation of deep silence, reflection, and the inner life nurtured him. Tom valued loyalty, integrity, kindness, humility, and loved his cabin, his mountain friends and community in Gilpin County and Nederland. He held some contrarian views as many of his friends can attest. His values aligned more with this mountain community and the love of nature.
In his quest for knowledge, Tom obtained certification as a paralegal and worked as a paralegal for more than two decades, practicing with his sister. His love of reading, research, and attention to details served him well in this field.
Yoga was an important pursuit; he was a regular yoga student at the yoga studio in Nederland. He loved hiking, walking, birding, and contemplating the mystery of the mountains.
Tom is survived by Mickey, a Corgi, and Lucky, a Scottish-fold cat as well as his sister Nancy Miller (Andrea) of Boulder, Colorado; his aunt Jane Miller of Underwood, North Dakota; several cousins and their families in North Dakota, Arizona, and Alaska; and his friends and neighbors.
He was a voracious, eclectic reader, patron, and volunteer at the Nederland Community Library. A memorial will be held August 18, 2024, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Nederland Library. Light refreshments will be served. Please come and share any stories, memories, or jokes and read any favorite poetry or passages.
Tom, in his humility, his commitment to nonviolence, and with his quirky sense of humor, made the world a much better place.
In his memory and in lieu of flowers, plant a tree or make a donation to the Nederland Community Library Foundation; The Wild Animal Sanctuary, Keenesburg, Colorado, or The Wild Horse Refuge, Craig, Colorado.
