Larry "Bear" Miller

Larry “Bear” Miller

Larry “Bear” Eugene Miller, age 55 of Stilwell, KS passed away Saturday August 28, 2021.  He was born October 17, 1965, in Uniontown, PA, the son of Rita (Moore) and Larry Eugene Miller, Sr.  After high school graduation, Bear entered the United States Marine Corps.  He met his wife Kristi in La Jolla, CA while stationed in the area, marrying at Lake Tahoe, and settling in Colorado, where Bear began to train to become a pilot.  Their children, Michael, Kacey, and Sean were born there, then the family move to Orlando so Bear could continue advanced pilot training.  They moved to Maryland where he worked as the traffic pilot for a Washington, D.C. morning news program.  Bear and Kristi moved to Stilwell, KS to raise their children and Bear continued to fulfill his passion for flying as a freight pilot, life flight pilot and then as Captain with Wheels Up.

Bear had a deep love for his wife, Kristi and ferocious dedication to his children and their interests.  He and Kristi had such fun with one another; they were best friends and truly enjoyed spending time together.  Bear’s love for his children was enormous and he chose to be a significant presence in their lives by coaching their sports teams, attending their school functions, and teaching them all he learned in life.  Friends will remember his contagious laughter and big smile.  He made such an impact to those he met and will be missed by so many!

Bear is survived by his wife of 30 years, Kristi of the home, daughter Kacey & her husband Joe Bartak of Overland Park, KS, and son Sean of Norfolk, VA; his mother Rita Miller; brothers Rob Miller, Steve Miller (Tiffany), John “Bumper” Miller (Christy), sister Misty “Buzz Saw” Miller Swiger; Aunt Delores “Duke” Bowman; Terry & Pam Miller; Terry Miller, Jr. & family; Jacob Miller & family, along with many loving cousins; mother-in-law Patricia Robinson; father-in-law Ralph Parra; sister and brother-in-law Megan and Mike Adamson, their children McKenna and Nathan; sister-in-law Amy Williams and her children Cole and Emily; brother-in-law Jeff Parra and his sons Trey and Trent, and their mother Lanna Foster (Steve).

He is preceded in death by his infant son Michael Joseph, his father Larry Eugene Miller Sr., brother Mike Miller, and brother-in-law Aaron Swiger.

Visitation will be held at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, Friday September 10, 2021, noon – 2pm with funeral services beginning at 2:00pm.  An interment service will be held at Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Saturday September 11, 2021, 3:00pm.  Memorial contributions may be made to Semper Fi Fund (https://SemperFiFund.org)