William Dean Miller's Obituary
Today we honor the life of William Dean Miller—a man whose spirit, determination, and love for his family made him unforgettable.
Dean was born in Springfield, Missouri, and grew up in a close family who taught him the value of hard work. He attended Ritenor Senior High School and spent his early years working as a cook at his grandfather’s restaurant, learning the meaning of responsibility long before most people his age understood it.
In his twenties, Dean began selling siding, and life eventually took him north to Tacoma, Washington. There, while working as a cook, he met Barb, the mother of his first daughter, Tiffany. A few years later, he trained as a prison guard—one of the many demanding careers he mastered—and during that time he met Cassandra, the mother of his daughters Rachelle and Amber. Later, he met Jackie, and together they welcomed his youngest child and first son, Willie.
Family meant everything to Dean. He helped raise and look after his nephews and nieces—Christopher, Andrew, Heather, Melissa, Kimberly, Matthew, and Tammy—always committed to keeping family close. If someone needed help, Dean showed up. If someone was struggling, he stepped in. He didn’t have to be asked—he just cared.
Professionally, Dean was a force of nature. As a flooring salesman and installer, he could “sell ice to an Eskimo.” His drive landed him the flooring contract with Fort Lewis after months of persistence, and he went on to sell more than 100,000 square yards of flooring. He was part of the “million-yard club,” a testament to both his skill and his work ethic.
But Dean was never just one thing. He was the definition of a jack of all trades: he ran businesses, cleared land, built houses from the foundation up, framed walls, installed floors, fixed engines, and taught others how to open businesses and maintain facilities—sometimes at the college level at Tacoma Community College, other times at the prison where he worked. There was almost nothing he couldn’t do.
Even after working 50 or 60 hours a week, Dean still made time for the people he loved. He organized family reunions, ski trips, holidays, fishing trips—anything that brought people together. He created charities so kids would have toys at Christmas. He took families shopping when they had nothing. Dean never had a lot himself, but he always gave more than he had. That was his heart.
Though he stood “five-foot nothing” and weighed maybe 160 pounds, Dean had a confidence and toughness larger than life. He didn’t take nonsense from anyone, and he faced every challenge head-on. After multiple heart attacks, while fighting cancer, he still taught himself to snowboard. In the late ’90s, he even snuck into early X-Games trial runs at Snoqualmie Pass and Crystal Mountain—racing down the slopes at full speed, launching off jumps nearly 30 feet high, outrunning security when he landed. That was Dean: fearless, funny, unstoppable.
He taught himself rodeo tricks, learned to ride the pipeline, and pushed himself to keep trying new things, no matter his age or his health. He ran marathons when he was young and again when he was older—proving that his spirit never slowed down.
Dean loved the wilderness. He loved fishing—for salmon, trout, bass—often going to his fishing hole every day in the summer. He took the kids along, teaching them to catch and release, creating memories that will last forever. He loved his pets—Iggy the iguana and Ginger the dog. He loved shooting, exploring new places, snowboarding in Lake Tahoe, traveling, and playing craps at the casino. He rebuilt engines, rode motorcycles, and once built a dune buggy that became a family legend. He even rode his bicycle to Seattle more than once—just because he could.
Dean lived boldly. He loved fiercely. He worked tirelessly. And he mentored not only his children, but countless others who looked up to him as a father figure.
To me, Dean wasn’t just a father. He was a mentor, a guide, and the example I looked to for strength. He taught me to stand tall, be fearless, work hard, care for my family, and never back down from life.
There will never be another man like William Dean “Deano” Miller. His hands built homes, his heart built families, and his courage inspired everyone around him. He will be missed deeply, remembered forever, and honored always.
May we live our lives with even a fraction of the strength, determination, humor, and love that Dean showed every day.
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