James Joseph Miller Jr.

AUG 11, 1948 - JUNE 3, 2013

Jim was the firstborn son of James and Georgette Miller of Bremerton, WA. He attended Star of the Sea Catholic grade school and was an Altar Boy for the parish. He graduated from West Bremerton High School in 1966, and then moved to Seattle. He later graduated from Seattle University with a BA degree in Business Administration (1973) and a MBA (1981). While going to college, Jim worked for the King County Assessor’s office as a commercial real estate assessor. After 16 years of working for the county, and honing his skills, he was lured away to work in the private sector as a property tax consultant.

While in graduate school, he met Taeko Kimura, and, they married on June 9, 1979. Two of the happiest days of his life were when his children Erica (1981) & Alex (1986) were born; they meant the world to him! He would call both his kids on a daily basis just to check in and find out about their day or tell them about his. No matter how old or independent they became he always wanted to make sure they were ok and well taken care of. Two years ago, with the birth of Erica’s son Ryder, he became a grandfather. He was a proud grandfather and loved to spoil Ryder on birthdays and holidays.

Jim was a very devoted father, son, brother, and grandfather. He was a great lover of family and all things sports. He had longtime season UW Husky, Seahawks, & Sonic tickets, and sat on the shores of Lake Washington for decades watching the Blue Angels and the Hydroplane Races during Seafaire. When not attending sporting events he was a homebody watching sports and movies on his huge Sense-Around TV system and inviting all his family and friends in the neighborhood to join him. Jimmy loved fast cars. His first car was a 1955 red T-Bird hard top convertible; his last car a prized Ford Mustang.

Jimmy was an extremely generous man and would give you the shirt off his back. He was always concerned about others but rarely asked for help himself. He was a good friend, who was the first to jump in to help whether with money, assisting with a project, or giving advice (although he wasn't very good at taking advice). In his younger years he was a salmon fisherman and greatly enjoyed staying up all night to smoke salmon for family occasions.

The place he loved most on earth was the south shore of Hood Canal where his father James Miller Sr still lives in the family home of 60+ years. He spent many happy years there as a child swimming, boating, and water skiing, and then, years later, brought his own children there to join family for extended holidays, birthdays, and warm summer weekends with bon fires (often there were 18+ people sleeping at the family home).

He is survived by his loving daughter Erica and Nick Sundesten, and their son Ryder of Issaquah, his son Alex Miller of Lake Tapps, father James J Miller Sr. of Belfair, brother Mike Miller and Suzanne Smith-Miller and their son Randall Miller of Lake Tapps
, sisters Ginger Miller of Whidbey Island
 and Teri Green of Las Vegas, nephew Mark and Morgan Green of Bellevue, sister-in-law Sandra Miller of Lake Tapps and her three children Adam Miller of Lake Tapps, Sarah Miller of Seattle, Jessica Stoker, her husband Brandon, and three children Jackson, Lizzy & Christian of Mesa AZ. He is preceded in death by his younger brother Tim Miller, nephew
 MG Miller, and, his mother Georgette ‘Porgie’ Miller.

Jim will be sorely missed by all of us that had the privilege to know and love this sweet and gentle man. He is now looking down on us with his best friend, his devoted Mother Porgie, who passed away a few months ago.

Goodbye Jimmy - See you on the other side in the next great adventure! There’s another bright star in the sky tonight.

Cremation was performed at Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home and a private family service will be held when family has gathered.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the UW Medical Center Palliative Care Fund in Family Medicine (who took great care of Jim). Checks should be made payable to “UW Foundation” and mailed to UW Medicine Advancement Attn: Gift Processing Bx 358045 Seattle, WA98195-8045