David Keith Miller

David Keith Miller passed away Tuesday, May 4, 2021 from complications associated with a heart attack. He was born on February 20, 1933 in Salt Lake City, UT to Dolores Cannon Miller and Clyde Morrison Miller. Keith had four brothers Robert, Bruce, Don, and Mike.  He married Chloe Ann Greene in 1964 in SLC where they began their family and had five children.  Keith is survived by his children Suzanne, Shauna, David, Aaron and Brian as well as 13 grandchildren, and his brother Bruce.  He is preceded in death by his first wife, Chloe Ann Greene, his second wife, Billie Sue Jenkins, three of his four brothers, and a sister who died in infancy. 

Keith used his middle name early on and that cemented in his 2nd grade year. Growing up in the 1930’s and 40’s in depression and war America, he knew the struggles of his family making ends meet and keeping food on the table, primarily raised by his mother throughout his childhood. Keith attended West High School in SLC, playing sports, skiing and working.  Keith moved around the West as a young man, staying with different relatives or looking for work.  He spent time at the Empire Gold Mine in Grass Valley, CA as a child and worked with his brother Bruce on a railroad in Idaho as a teenager. Through these experiences, Keith developed a strong work ethic and flexibility to face life’s challenges.

Keith was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served a mission in the Southwestern States as a Spanish speaking missionary, a formative experience for him which played a key role in the rest of his life. He remained a faithful member of the church in various callings throughout his life. In his younger years Keith served in Young Men’s, Boy Scouts and Stake Mission assignments. After Chloe Ann’s passing in 1992, Keith married Billie Jenkins in 1997, and they had 20 happy years in Penn Valley.  He was an active participant in the LDS Penn Valley Ward with Billie and served the Single Adults, as a High Priest leader and as a Ward missionary where he was also a regular visitor and teacher at a local prison, working with inmates.

Keith attended the University of Utah, earned a Masters degree in Spanish and Latin American Culture and utilized his language skills throughout his life.  He was the Spanish language coordinator for the 1987 Pan-American Games, Jr. College Spanish teacher, and assisted Spanish language branches of the church. He spent his later years in California as a financial planner.  Pursuit of a PhD at Indiana University with Chloe Ann led their young and growing family to the mid-West for about 16 years living in various states as he and Chloe Ann worked to support themselves.  Eventually the pull to be closer to family inspired the move from Indiana to the Sacramento Area in 1986 which has been his home base ever since. 

After completing his missionary service, Keith joined the Army National Guard where he served for over thirty years working in Army Intelligence, also utilizing his language skills. He retired from the National Guard in 1993 obtaining the rank of Sergeant First Class.  Out of respect for his military service and his love and respect for those who serve, Keith will be laid to rest at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, CA. 

Keith’s wavy white hair, twinkling eyes, and cheerful smile will be missed by all.  His children and grandchildren will remember him showing his love for them by coming to their events, and actively participating in their lives.  He loved to laugh and a little bit of rudeness might catch him off guard but get an especially loud laugh.  Keith loved to be of service, and for the last 3 years he was serving his friends at the Vintage Woods retirement community by giving rides, running errands and cooking meals. 

We know that Keith would want to be remembered as a disciple of Jesus Christ.  He would want to be known as someone who made mistakes in his life, but someone who tried to do better, correct his course and ask for forgiveness.  We love you dad.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of David Keith Miller, please visit our floral store.