Miller

Raymond Charles Miller passed away peacefully at home on Monday, Feb. 13, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. with family at his side. He was 84 years old and battled the terrible disease of dementia for a long time.

Ray was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on Aug. 11, 1938 to Frank and Lula Shipman Miller. He was the seventh of 13 children. He married Barbara Cernoch on Aug. 29, 1964 in Corpus Christi at Christ the King Catholic Church. He was a convert and was baptized in 1964 at the same church. He was a member of the KJT in La Grange, and a previous Eucharist Minister and rosary leader at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Schulenburg.

Raymond loved to go deep sea fishing, hunting, coaching his children in baseball or softball and later watching his grandchildren play sports, act, sing and dance. The family did a lot of camping, first in a popup- camper and then a travel trailer. Other favorite pastimes were attending the horse races at the Gillespie County Fair in Fredericksburg and watching Encore Western movies (especially John Wayne). A highlight was when the entire family went to Yellowstone National Park for Ray and Barbara’s 50th anniversary. Another highlight was a trip to the Kentucky Derby. He also loved to sing, especially all the old songs, and listen to Ray Price. Ray and Barbara would travel anywhere in Texas to see Ray Price.

He and his wife Barbara worked bingo in Corpus Christi for the benefit of the school, and in Selma, they were members of the CYO and Parents Club to help with sports and different activities to benefit of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School. This continued when the Millers moved to Dubina and the children attended St. Michael’s Catholic School in Weimar, St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in Schulenburg and Bishop Forest Catholic High School. They were both devout supporters of Catholic School education and worked many bingos and fundraisers to keep the schools open, especially Bishop Forest High School. After the school closed in 1989, they joined Friends of Catholic Education and worked bingo to pay for the bus to transport those children who still wanted to continue their Catholic education at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Hallettsville.

He lived in Cincinnati, Ohio until he was 13 years old (1952) and then he and his mother, brother and sisters moved to Corpus Christi, where he lived from 1952-73. He worked different places as a mechanic, at Champlin Oil Refinery as a timekeeper, Handy Andy Grocery Store as stock manager and then landed a mechanic’s job at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. He worked himself up to service manager and in 1973 the company moved his family to San Antonio. In 1979, the family moved to their land in Dubina, and he went to work for LCRA’s Fayette Power Project in La Grange. He started out as a head mechanic and worked up to project manager. He retired on Jan. 1, 2000 but continued working there for several years during an outage and was in charge of recruiting retirees who would like to come back to work for a short time. He loved his work there and the people he worked with and sometimes said he wished he would have not retired and worked there longer.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, of 58 years; sons, Raymond Miller Jr. of Thorndale and Allan Miller and wife Amanda of Dallas; daughter, Deborah Miller Phipps and husband Craig of Fairview; grandchildren, Ashlyn Miller, Abby and Austin Miller and Dominick and Connor Phipps; sisters, Margie Carswell of San Diego, Calif., Norma Karpman of Bedford, Sandy Howard of Corpus Christi, Linda Chaddock and husband John of Deer Park, and Darlene Foster of Deer Park; brother-in-law, Joe Cernoch and wife Linda of Corpus Christi; sisters-in-law, Mary Jo Rebecek of Dubina, Charline Miller of Corpus Christi, Denise Miller of Corpus Christi and Nancy Miler Parrott; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Lula Shipman Miller; parents-inlaw, Joseph and Mary Kubala Cernoch; brothers, Russell Miller, Robert Miller,Ronald Miller and Richard Miller; sisters, Jean Miller Woodlee and husband Quentin, Rebecca Sosa and Betty Miller; and brother-in-law, Clifford Carswell.

Funeral services were held on Monday, Feb. 20 at 11 a.m. at Sts. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church in Dubina. Rev. Wayne Flagg and Deacon Doug Tromblee officiated. Honorary pallbearers were godsons Raymond Rebecek, Ronald Rebecek and Bradley Haecker; goddaughters Connie Looka Vrana and April Brown; nephews Chuck Miller and Michael Woodlee; and all LCRA/FPP employees between 1979-2000. Rosary was said at 10:30 a.m. at the church, led by Deacon Tromblee. A private interment will occur at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to St. Michael’s Catholic School in Weimar; St. Rose of Lima Catholic School in Schulenburg; or Hospice of Brazos Valley.

Arrangements are under the direction of Schwenke-Baumgarten Funeral Home.