In the tradition of quirky high school yearbook questions, Sgt. Timothy Miller was asked in 1997 what part of a shoe he'd be.
"Most said that they'd be laces, but not Tim. He would be the Nike Swoosh," recalled Miller's English teacher, Earlene Issel. "Tim always showed an interest in learning and improving himself. He had a twinkle in his eye and a good sense of humor."
Miller graduated from Douglas High in 1998 and went straight into the military. Over 10 years he served as a U.S. Army medic in South Korea, Colombia and Iraq. During his service he met and married Randi after they ment at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The couple was stationed to Fort Lewis in Washington where they had a daughter, Kassidy.
"Tim was a polite and friendly young man," said Donovan Mattinson, who taught science to Miller his junior and senior years. "He was a nice person and was well-liked by his peers and teachers."
On March 1, Miller and his wife were allegedly gunned down by a fellow soldier, 22-year-old Ivette Davila. According to police reports, Davila shot and killed the couple in their home outside Fort Lewis and abducted 6-month-old Kassidy. The incident was reported by another soldier that Davila had confided in, and military police took Davila into custody and recovered the child, unharmed.
Motive for the crime has not yet been established. Davila will be tried in military court.
"The Douglas High community is saddened by the news," said Principal Marty Swisher. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families. Tim's younger brother, Dan, is a senior at Douglas, and we offer our condolences to his family, friends, and Dan during this very difficult time."
Miller's mother, Tami Gray, and stepfather, Randy Gray, who live in the Gardnerville Ranchos, left for Washington on Monday to pick up Kassidy.
"Because of his service in the Army, Timothy put off starting a family until he was about to leave the service," said Terry Krout, Miller's godmother who had known him since he was 10 minutes old. "He was trying to get on with the Nevada Highway Patrol and move to Reno to be closer to his family. Tim and Randi were just talking about a little brother or sister for Kassidy when they were here at Christmas."
An account has been set up at Wells Fargo in honor of the slain couple. Make donations to the Timothy and Randi Miller/Gray Memorial Fund, account No. 8302684389. The family plans to have a military-style funeral at Douglas High School, but the time and date of the service has not yet been determined.
