A celebration of life for Daryl Miller, 42, lecturer, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 14 at the Colorado Springs Conservatory, 415 S. Sahwatch St.
Miller died Jan. 8 following a relapse of leukemia.
Miller joined UCCS as a graduate student in 2001 and earned his master’s degree in counseling and human services in 2003. He served as campus activities coordinator, assistant director of campus life, program assistant in the Matrix Center and as an academic advisor. He was a lecturer for the College of Education and College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, and with the psychology department at Pikes Peak Community College.
Miller taught at Walla Walla Community College in Walla Walla, Washington, from 2012 to 2017, where he earned tenure.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a gift to the Daryl Leigh Miller Memorial Scholarship Fund. Donations can be made online at uccs.edu/Daryl-Miller, by phone at 719-255-5101, or by check made payable to CU Foundation, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80918-3733 with IMO Darryl Miller.
His family and friends prepared the following obituary, with his own words and dictated to Dena Samuels, director, Matrix Center:
Daryl Leigh Miller
11/17/75 – 1/8/18My most profound memory from boyhood in rural Pennsylvania was being outside, a gentle breeze blowing, and I was pulling a little red wagon behind me. I recall looking around at my surroundings and somehow, deep down, even at the tender age of four, I knew I was destined for bigger adventures, that I had light to share elsewhere.
After graduating from Mitchell High School in 1994, I became the first person in my family to attend college: Colorado Mesa University. While in college I met my future husband, Thomas Wilson. We both knew we were it for each other. He is the most loyal person I’ve ever known and always encouraged me to grow.
During and after getting my Masters in the Counseling program at UCCS, I worked in the Office of Campus Activities (2002-2007), and then at the Matrix Center (2008 – 2012), where I learned about social justice and equity, and met great activists fighting for change. While teaching for the UCCS College of Education’s Student Affairs in Higher Ed Masters program, I also taught in Women’s and Ethnic Studies, and in the psychology program at Pikes Peak Community College.
From 2012-2017, I taught at Walla Walla Community College in Washington state. There I received mentorship, guidance and unconditional support from world-class faculty, and was awarded tenure.
I have done my best to live my life with gratitude, and there are so many to thank in my 42 years! I hope all of you who supported me during my journey into illness this past year know what you have meant to me. I take with me the light of all of you. I leave behind my spouse, Thomas; our dog, Maynard; and the family of dear friends that we built together.
And with my little red wagon behind me, I salute you and say “I’m grateful for the experience, and now, I’m outta here!”
A Celebration of the Life of Daryl Leigh Miller will be held on MLK weekend, officiated by Dr. Stephany Rose with songs from CC Wells: Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at Colorado Springs Conservatory, 415 Sahwatch St., Colorado Springs, CO 80903
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that you make a gift to the Daryl Leigh Miller Memorial Scholarship Fund. Please invest/donate at :www.uccs.edu/Daryl-Miller; or make checks payable to: CU Foundation, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80918-3733 specifying: “In Memory of Daryl Miller;” or call Diane Dickerson at 719.255.5101.
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