Michael Ermon Miller

Michael Ermon Miller, named for an Archangel and his father, was born May 20, 1942 on his father’s 26th birthday in Mineral Wells, TX. He passed away July 1, 2025 in Temple from complications from a stroke suffered in May. The intervening 83 years were a journey of travel, family, church, and Wildcat football (Go Wildcats!)

Visitation will be at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple on Aug. 8, from 5 p.m to 7 p.m. Memorial service will be at First Methodist Church in Temple on Aug. 9 at 1 p.m., followed by a reception at the church.

Early years in Morton, TX meant Scouts, lots of Miller/Watson/Willis/Mullinax cousins, and beans and fried cornbread as the family struggled to run Miller Motor Company. The infamous “Cookie Jar Caper” occurred at Aunt Era’s house, where Mike was paddled for stealing a cookie. Years later, cousin Norton Lee Willis gifted Mike that same cookie jar.

Graduating from Lamesa High School in 1960 (Go Golden Tornadoes), Mike endured a year at Texas Tech, but transferred to his dream school, the University of Texas in Austin for Pharmacy School, graduating in 1966. Drafted to An-Khe, Vietnam that year, he ranked Spec 5th class upon discharge in Sept 1969. Mike never spoke about his Vietnam years, but his proudest possession upon return was a huge collection of stereo equipment acquired on leave in Tokyo and Singapore and shipped back home.

Settling in Temple, he began a series of pharmacy jobs (Skillern’s, Levine’s), culminating in joining Temple’s legendary V&M Drugs in 1972. As one of the M’s (Matula, Malone) to the V (Voelter), he made many midnight pharmacy and weekend deliveries until 1987 when V&M closed. After that, he worked at the Temple VA, Kings Daughters, Darnell, and Walmart. He saw the pharmacy profession morph from struggling to interpret prescriptions written in illegible physician handwriting, to all electronic systems. He never let his physician sister live down her chicken scratching.

Mike loved “fast cars and pretty girls”, and married a Mexia belle, Ilene Carrington, on Dec. 28, 1974. They struck a cow on a dark, rainy highway outside Mexia not long after, and his beloved 1969 silver ‘Vette was no more. His favorite car ever, though, was a 1966 Gold Mustang he sold when he shipped to Vietnam.

Family life began in Temple with two sons (Mason ’82 and Mark ’83), born 18 months apart. He was not a young dad but an involved one - T- ball, scout troop 101 (both he and the boys were Eagle Scouts), and his beloved First United Methodist Church, Temple. There he was a lay leader, Chancel Choir bass for 50 plus years, and active in Christian Collage Sunday School Class and the Methodist Mens’ Prayer Breakfast Group. But, perhaps he was most renowned for his Scripture reading in his resonant bass rumble - earning him the sobriquet “the Voice of God.”

He and Ilene travelled to Alaska, Canada, the Caribbean, Italy, and over most farm to market roads in Texas. He explored their genealogy and recorded his parents’ stories for prosperity. Many hot July 4ths he donned a scratchy wool Revolutionary coat and tri-corned hat to ride the Sons of the American Revolution float in the Belton parade. As a descendant of B.W. Grimes of Hood’s Brigade, he was also an SCV member.

Mike is pre-deceased by his parents, Ermon and Geraldine Miller, and his best friend and brother, Larry Miller of Cedar Park, who called him Miguelito. Survivors include wife, Ilene Miller of Temple, sons Mason Allen Miller (Lisa) of Austin and son Mark Lytle Miller of Houston. Grandchildren are Hunter and Charlotte Miller of Austin, who called him Grandad. Also surviving are sister-in-law Susan Miller of Leander, and nephews Chris Miller (Jessica) and their sons, Blake and Tyler of Leander and Chad Miller and children Jackson, Evelyn and Lauren of Round Rock. Sole sibling survivor is Dr. Gwendolyn Miller-Beeler (Steve) of Austin. She called him Big Bro or Mikey, bridging the 16-gap in their ages.

Mike loved salmon croquettes, burnt fried okra, dodger bread, peach bellinis, and Longhorn football (Go Horns). He was likely the longest season ticket holder for the Temple Wildcats (Go Wildcats), and loved to parse Texas high school football with friends and family. He always had a corny dad joke, or more often, an Aggie joke for his Aggie dad and sister.

His stroke robbed him of his trademark voice, and his relished trips to Taco Bell and Sonic. He missed the simple joy of having a Coke with lots of ice in his last days, but he is now in the land of endless bounty.

When you remember Mike, envision him in an RV traveling across the Colorado mountains (he loved Crested Butte), or in a silver Vette, top down, on a desert highway blasting Neil Diamond and Blood, Sweat and Tears.

Godspeed, Michael, Mikey, Miguelito, and Grandad…well done, good and faithful servant.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in Mr. Miller's name to the First Methodist Church - Temple, 102 N. 2nd St., Temple, Texas 76501.