Stephen "Sparky" Andrew Miller

Stephen “Sparky” Andrew Miller

Citrus Heights, CA- Stephen “Sparky” Miller, 64, died March 25, 2023 unexpectedly from natural causes while doing yard work in the backyard of his Citrus Heights, CA home. Born May 22, 1958 in San Francisco to William and Daphne Miller, Steve was the fifth of six children. He was the youngest of his four brothers, Art, John, Mike, Ed and older brother to his sister, Mary. Steve grew up in the bay area where he attended Clayton Valley High School (c/o 1976) and had his first job as a paperboy at the age of six. Known for being outgoing, smart, and quick witted, Steve loved spending time with the Clayton Valley High School Radio program where he would often fill the airways with his humor giving listeners the ski report from Mt. Diablo. After high school, Steve spent a year at Chico State, in the same dorms as his daughter would later live in, studying Mass Communications before moving on to the workforce. He met his wife, Nanette at a party in the Bay Area and immediately fell in love. They soon moved to the Sacramento area eventually settling in the City of Citrus Heights where they had two children, son Travis and daughter Nicole. He worked various jobs before settling in as an inspector and then manager with the County of Sacramento before moving into private inspection, quality control and management with various companies and as an independent business owner. Steve loved the city of Citrus Heights. Inheriting the trait of service from his mother, he often volunteered around the city as a Lion, Rotarian, and as “Coach Sparky” for CH Pony and Sunrise Girls Softball. Before being appointed to the city council in 2005, he was a member of the Law Enforcement Community Advisory Committee, was president of the Resident’s Empowerment Association of Citrus Heights, and helped facilitate the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life on a yearly basis. Spending seventeen plus years on the council, Steve had several stints as Vice Mayor and Mayor. His accomplishments are too numerous to mention but he lived and breathed the city and was proud to see Citrus Heights grow into what it is today. Never one to leave the public sector, he was elected to the San Juan Unified School board upon his retirement from the council in 2022. Sparky was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He could often be found camping in his trailer with Nan and the dogs as he loved to get away and spend time with nature. A trait he picked up from his youth spent backpacking and camping with friends throughout Northern California. He traveled extensively with Nan going to places such as Germany, Tahiti, Bora Bora, and China. His children will deeply miss his words of wisdom, humor, and his ability to put them in their place with a simple phrase. He spent hours on the phone with his kids talking about sports, politics, and life in general. Steve also loved to brag about his grandchildren and their accomplishments in the classroom and on the field. Steve and Nanette had recently celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary and he will be deeply missed by Nan, Travis and wife Tiffany, Nicky and husband Davidson as well as his nine grandchildren, Isaiah, Mikaylah, Alicia, Bella, James, Colt, Ada, Cora, and Cameron. Steve leaves behind too many friends to name and every one of them meant the world to him. 

*A Celebration of Life will be held in Sparky's Honor at 1:00pm on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at the Citrus Heights Community Center. 
 

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