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Gilbert Miller, 82

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Gilbert Eugene “Gene” Miller, 82, of Miami, Ariz., entered into eternal rest peacefully, the morning of Nov. 8, 2019 in his home while surrounded by his family.

Gene was born April 5, 1937 in Bisbee, Ariz. to Gilbert Harvey “Dick” and Lois Louise “Donnie” (Voclckel) Miller. The family of five moved to Miami-Globe in 1943, where Gene attended Miami schools.

Gene graduated Miami High School in 1955. He was a very competitive athlete, lettering four years in football and track. He attended Palo Verde College in Blythe, Calif., where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business, and continued his athletic career in football and track.

Gene married his high-school sweetheart, Margaret “Raneen” (Copp) Miller, Aug. 19, 1956 in the First Baptist Church, Miami. Gene and Raneen celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary this year proving that commitment, love, forgiveness, patience, and faith are cornerstones of marriage.

After college graduation, they returned home to Miami, and in 1957, Gene began his career with Inspiration Consolidated Copper Company (ICCO) (aka Cypress, PD, and FMI), retiring in 2000 after 40 plus years in copper mining.

Gene and Raneen raised their family of four, which over 63 years, grew into a family of many! Family was everything to Gene, and he went above and beyond to provide for, protect, teach, discipline, and love unconditionally. He was very proud of their ever-growing multi-generational family.

Throughout his life, Gene never lost his competitive nature, picking up the gentleman’s game of golf, and realizing early on that he had a passion for coaching and officiating. In Miami, he coached T-Ball through Babe Ruth baseball and assisted coaching high school golf. Throughout Arizona, he officiated football, basketball, baseball, and softball. Gene’s kids quickly learned that their strike zone was much smaller than the other kids, and he would throw a yellow flag in football just as quickly on his own kid, as any other athlete that earned the foul. The kids of Miami-Globe that Gene coached and mentored over the years enriched his life, and he was always so grateful for those opportunities.

Gene never met a stranger! He loved his family, loved his community and its families, truly loved helping those in need, loved making someone laugh and be happy, and really loved joking around, even if he was on the receiving end of a good joke.

Gene was proceeded in death by his parents, Dick and Donnie Miller and his grandson, Shon Robert Rogers. He is survived by love of his life and wife Raneen, eight children Mark (Dee), Jodi (Carl), Cali (Frank), Chad (Vielka), six grandchildren Nik, Krista (Shane), Daniel, and Maya, eight great-grandchildren Sterling (Nikki), Justin (Nicole), Larry, Malayza, Brynly, and Josslyn, four great great-grandchildren Kira, Shon, Gracelyn, and Tatum, and one sister Sue (Butch) Harrington.

Funeral services were held on Nov. 16, 2019 at 10 a.m. at Maranatha Baptist Church, Globe, Ariz.

Assisting the family is Lamont Mortuary, Globe