William "Billy Clay" Raymond Miller

Bill’s mother Juanita was full Sioux, of the Lakota tribe, Rosebud family.

She was confined to a sanatorium with tuberculosis when Bill was just a toddler. His father had entered the navy to serve in WW2, and was not available to care for Bill. His paternal Grandmother and her husband (Ellen & Everett Miller) adopted and raised Bill in San Antonio, TX. They recorded his name as William Ray Miller.

Bill graduated from high school in 1959 and joined the marines. He joined the marines to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps.

Coming from a long line of warriors, among whom is listed crazy Horse, who defeated General Custer at Little Bighorn, from his mother’s side; and John Moseby, known as the gray ghost of the Civil War (on his father’s side). His grandfather, Everett Miller, was one of the few survivors from the US Marine battle of Bella Woods in France where the Marines were later referred to as “Devil Dogs” because of how hard they fought.

Bill began performing professionally at the age of 12 and joined the musicians’ union in San Antonio that year. He played the Dobro, the steel guitar, and bass guitar, but his real talent was on the piano.

He played throughout the south in the civic auditoriums with the big name musicians of his day. He loved music, and particularly rock n roll. Bill wrote, arranged and performed his music.

Bill loved the outdoors, gardening and everything associated with it. He loved animals, his pets included dogs, cats, frogs, and even (upon occasion) alligators.

Bill went to school because he had friends to socialize with and to play music with. Other than math, his friends and his music, Bill considered school a waste of his time. He always attended because of the side benefits! 

Bill’s first job at the tender age of 11 was driving a 2 ton truck down the alleys of San Antonio delivering ice to local homes and businesses.

Bill served in the served in the Marines for 4 years with tours of duty in Asia and in the Pacific. he returned to the US in 1963 and joined the US coast guard where he served an additional 2 years. It was during this time that he first came to the seattle area. He fell in love with Western Washington.

After leaving the coastguard, Bill joined the ironworkers’ union and became a journeyman ironworker. He also, at that time, studied welding – continuing his passion for music in his off-hours.

In the early 1970’s, Bill and his wife Bobbie, opened Billy Bob’s restaurant in Everett, patterned after the one he had owned in Texas. He later moved the restaurant to Marysville. He also owned and managed professional welding companies in Texas and Washington.

In 1984, Bill’s life changed abruptly. He suffered a massive heart-attack while onstage performing a concert at Billy Bob’s in Marysville. The limitations on his strength required that he retire from ironworking and welding.

Bill grieved the loss of his beloved Bobbie when she died in 1996 after a short battle with leukemia.

He then closed Billy-Bobs as he could not handle the business on his own.

Bill was a southern gentleman. He was charming and outgoing, forceful and exasperating. He was “subtle as a freight-train” telling whoever was around exactly what he thought they needed to hear. He was meticulous about his personal appearance, except that he felt it was always appropriate to wear well-worn work clothes, no matter the setting. 

Known for his love for music and his drive for excellence in all things, Bill is survived by his wife of 10 years, Sharon Fifield-Miller; his children – Roger, Dawn, Ellen, Billy & Becky; his step-children – Danny, Carla, Rob, Jon, & Debbie; and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Bill closed this chapter of his life on Thursday, December 22, 2011. He is rejoicing in the presence of Jesus today.

Arrangements under the direction of Purdy & Walters with Cassidy Funeral Home, Everett, WA.