Fred S. Miller

Fred S. Miller, 81, of Gun Barrel City, passed away on September 28, 2022.  The cause of death was COPD.  Fred was born in Corpus Christi, TX, on November 10, 1940, to Robert and Marguerite Miller.

Fred served in the U.S. Navy from 1956-1960 and then moved to Oregon, where he worked as a logger, and it was there he met and married Lorene Holden. They had four children together– Bridget, Fred, Josette, and Marguerite. After he had a serious back injury in 1966, they moved to Irving, TX, where Fred began working as a car salesman – often making salesman of the month.  In 1971 the family moved to Gun Barrel City at Cedar Creek Lake, where Fred started a small car lot and built boat docks at the lake. In 1974, after his divorce, Fred and his children moved to Dallas, where he continued to be a successful car salesman.

Fred later returned to the Cedar Creek area and started a new chapter in his life in 1984 with the help of AA.  From 1993 to 2000, he was a counselor at Sundown Ranch, where his experience with addiction enabled him to help many young people with similar struggles.  In 2001, Fred met and married Elsa Cramer, who had a daughter, Theresa.  After retiring at age 62, he thoroughly enjoyed his friends, family, working in his shop, watching boxing and Dallas Cowboys football. He especially enjoyed motorcycle trips with his friend Bill Parrish. Fred loved music – particularly the blues, and he enjoyed listening with his friend Tommy Murrey, now deceased.  Fred always loved dogs, and it wasn’t unusual for him to carry home a dog he had found on the roadside or in a culvert.

Fred was preceded in death by his son Fred Miller, his grandsons Michael Ling and Christopher McFaul, and his first wife, Lorene.

He is survived by his wife Elsa Miller, his brother Robert Miller, daughters Bridget, Josette, Margueritte and husband Gary Crawford, Theresa and husband Shane Norris.  He is also survived by his grandchildren, Tiffany and husband Sean Koller, Matthew Nix, James Ling, Robert Ling and Carmen Ling, Trevor Whitten and wife Emily, and Nicole and husband Stephen Schlee.  And he is survived by numerous great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake (903) 432-3422.