Ray Miller

Ray Lauren Miller, 83, passed from this life to Glory on Saturday, January 15, 2022, in Sun City, Arizona. He was born in Detroit, MI, on July 30, 1938, to Pauline Lavina Maud Watterworth and Andy Ray Miller. As a boy, he knew he wanted to serve the Lord and began preaching at age 15. In 1958, he married Joy Anne Kikhoefel at the Strathmore Church of Christ in Detroit. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Henderson, Tennessee, so Ray could attend Freed-Hardeman College. He graduated with an associate degree plus one year of Advanced Bible Studies in 1960. After college, Ray and Joy moved to Canada, where for 23 years he preached at a number of congregations in Ontario and Quebec, while raising a family of 5 children. He was Dean of Students at Great Lakes Christian College in Beamsville, Ontario, from 1974 to 1977. In 1982, they moved back to Michigan, where Ray preached at the Parkside Church of Christ in Dearborn Heights. After Joy’s passing, Ray married Stanna Bowman in 1988, and a year later they moved to Peoria, AZ where he has preached at the West Olive Church of Christ for 32 years. Ray conducted more than 50 meetings in the United States and Canada, spoke at lectureships, taught numerous Bible classes, and served as Editor of the Gospel Herald. A hallmark of Ray’s service to the Lord was his reputation for maintaining harmony in the congregation while preaching the truth. He was a spiritual giant, preaching with prayer, encouragement, calmness, directness, and the power of God’s Holy Word. When he wasn’t studying the Word, Ray loved to golf, and he loved the Detroit Red Wings. He is survived by his loving and faithful wife, Stanna, his children Laurie Whitfield (Wayne), David Miller (Audrey), Wendy Grizzell (Wayne), Holly Anderson (Craig), Andy Miller, Becky Lieberman (Dan), Matt Bowman (Samantha), and Abby Bowman, his grandchildren Lacey, Sarah, Amy, Katie, Adam, Jennifer, Shawn, Tyler, Lauren, Luke, Samuel, Bennett, Elinor, Camden, Hudson, Grant, Max, Sam, Grace, Kohen, Chloe, Henry, Isaac, and Jack, as well as several great-grandchildren. “The Lord says, ‘This is My agreement with these people: My Spirit and My words that I give you will never leave you or your children or your grandchildren, now and forever.’” Isaiah 59:21