Laurie Raymond Miller

Laurie Raymond Miller, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away on Friday January 28, 2022 at the age of 88. He was surrounded by his family who were lucky enough to be able to tell him how much he was loved and what an extraordinary impact he had on the lives of everyone he met.

Laurie was born in Tacoma, Washington on September 14, 1933 to parents Nancy and Raymond Miller. His family moved to Seattle where Laurie attended Magnolia Grade School and Queen Anne High School before enrolling at the University of Washington. At the UW, Laurie was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity where he met some of his closest lifelong friends, a bond strengthened by their frequent all-night poker games. After graduating, Laurie fulfilled his ROTC commitment in the Army. Upon completing his service, he moved to New York City to work in the financial industry with Merrill Lynch. Later in life, he would regale his grandchildren with stories of his wonderful times in Manhattan. In 1957, Merrill Lynch sent him to Portland, Oregon. He then joined Black & Company in 1959 as a partner. He was known by his colleagues as a dedicated and trusted friend who was always generous with wisdom and advice. After more than five decades in the industry, Laurie retired in 2005.

Laurie is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gail Peterson Miller who he met at a UW homecoming event in 1958, his children Betsy, Molly (Ted), Suzanne (Mark), and Andy, his grandchildren Jake (Angie), Mary Grace (Abi), Charlie, Susannah (Hutton), Andy, Helena, Caroline, Graham, Lane, and Rowan, and his great grandchildren, Cameron and Lola. To his family and friends, Laurie was known as “Dad”, “Papa”, “Papa Laurie” and “Louie the Cinch”. He was kind, warm, compassionate, and a trusted listener. He had an unrivaled sense of humor, and an infectious optimism, and an uncanny ability to put things in perspective with his patented phrase “onward and upward.” Laurie never missed an opportunity to call a friend or watch his grandchildren play sports always cheering “Hubba Hubba” from the sidelines. He frequently cut articles of interest out of the newspaper and mailed them to his grandchildren and dear friends across the country. He loved reading history and, with the large number of people who loved him and whose lives he touched, he surely made history of his own.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Donations in his honor can be made to Hillsdale College 33 East College Street, Hillsdale, MI 49242 or the Oregon Historical Society 1200 SW Park Avenue, Portland OR 97205.