Raymond Patrick Miller

Raymond Patrick Miller, 77, Barton, died Wednesday, January 8, following a lengthy and courageous battle with heart disease. Ray was a proud father, renowned teacher, and lifelong coach who positively impacted many. 

Ray was born to the late Raymond J. & Deloris P. (Nolan) Miller of Lonaconing (“Coney”), Maryland on July 6, 1947. Ray is survived by his children, Ray (Madeline) Miller and Kaitlin Miller, his brother, Tim (Catherine) Miller, and Kathy Miller. 

Ray is preceded in death by many of his beloved Coney relatives including his special cousin and best friend, Tim Rowan. 

Ray grew up in Coney on Douglas Avenue where he formed lifelong friendships. He graduated from Valley High School and later from Frostburg State University, both times as valedictorian. He obtained a Masters in Political Science from West Virginia University.

After graduation, Ray began his teaching career at Beall High School and soon after became a teacher at his alma mater, Valley High School. There he taught for 43 years and impacted the lives of thousands of George’s Creek residents. He was a proud AFL-CIO union card member. He loved to teach Latin, Contemporary Politics, History, and American, State and Local Government. He loved coaching Mock Trial; his proudest achievement was leading the team to a state championship in 1991. He was known for his sharp wit and ability to connect with students. One of his favorite parts of being a teacher was running into students after he graduated, even if he couldn’t always remember their names. 

Ray loved sports, especially his favorite teams--the Baltimore Colts and later Ravens, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and the Boston Celtics. He was a little league baseball coach for many years in Coney and would later coach his son’s hot stove baseball team, The Medicine Shoppe. He loved to spend time with his children, watching and discussing the sports and political topics of the day. 

The family would like to thank the many who helped Ray live independently for the last years of his life. His medical team–-Dr. Nicolas Fortuin, Dr. Mark Nelson, Dr. Pradhum Ram, Dr. Hani Alkhatib, Jeremy Stewart, Dan Haines, and the entire staff of the CVU, ICU, ER, Home Health Care and Physical Therapy, Jeff Metz, Dave and Jimmy Lauder, Sam Jones, Beth Winner, and the entire staff at Egle Nursing & Rehab. A very special thanks to his friends, Dr. Matthew Allaway and Dr. Sandra Howard. Thank you to his special friends, Marvin “Bacon” (Alicia) Miller and Jim Love. To all of those who would help and support him, Gary Matthews and Renee Taylor, Brandi Twigg, Dwight Bittinger, George and Norma Ayers, Connie Ritchie, Sara Mowbray, Janelle Merritt, Jordan Zais, Brett Martin, Mr. & Mrs. Bob Elliott, Nathan Moses, and countless others. 

A celebration of life mass will be held at St. Michael Catholic Church with friend, Father Doug Kenney and Father Scott Kady, presiding on Monday, January 13th. The family will receive friends and family at 10 a.m. with the mass beginning at 11 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ray’s memory to St Anthony of Padua’s charities.