Obituaries

Timothy Joseph Miller

1980-2008

A service and military funeral is 11:30 a.m. Sunday at Douglas High School for Army medic and native Nevadan Staff Sgt. Timothy Joseph Miller, 27, who died March 2, 2008, in Parkland, Wash.

Born Sept. 18, 1980, in Carson City to Tami Gray and Aaron Taflinger, he grew up with his adoptive father, Randy Gray, whom his mother married in August 1984 in Gardnerville. He attended school in Carson Valley, graduating from Douglas High in 1998.

Staff Sgt. Miller joined the U.S. Army upon graduating from high school and became an operating room specialist. He served at the Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg, N.C., and in South Korea before being transferred to Fort Lewis in April 2003.

He was stationed at the Madigan Army Medical Center until September 2005. He served in Iraq with the 47th Combat Support Hospital, 62nd Medical Brigade from October 2005 to November 2006.

Staff Sgt. Miller received the Army Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal among others. On March 3, he was posthumously promoted to staff sergeant.

Staff Sgt. Miller was preceded in death by his grandparents, Delbert and Lyannelle Zumwelt, Rosalie Evans, Richard Taflinger, uncle John Warner and aunt Barbara Scerbo.

Staff Sgt. Miller is survived by a daughter, Kassidy Laine Miller of Gardnerville; parents Randy and Tami Gray of Gardnerville, Aaron and Valera Taflinger of Vancouver, Wash.; sisters Savannah Gray, Mikayla and Rosalie Taflinger; brothers Gregory Taflinger and Daniel Gray; grandfather Don Evans; godmother Terry Krout of Gardnerville; aunts and uncles Scott and Nancy Sanders, Mike Taflinger, Steve Taflinger, Greg and Teri Taflinger, Richard Taflinger, Mike and Donna Gray, Mary Dawn and Mike Dean, Norman and Maggie Miller.

Burial with military honors will be at Eastside Memorial Park after the service. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Saturday at FitzHenryh's Carson Valley.

Donations may be made to the Kassidy Miller Fund at Wells Fargo Bank, account No. 8302684389.

Arrangements are in the care of FitzHenry's Carson Valley Funeral Home.

Randi Jean Miller

1982-2008

A military funeral is 11 a.m. today in Laconia, N.H., for Randi Jean Miller, 25, who died March 2, 2008, in Parkland, Wash. Sgt. Miller is the wife of Staff Sgt. Timothy Miller, whose service is Sunday at Douglas High School in Minden. She will be remembered during the Sunday service.

Born March 25, 1982, in Lowell, Mass., to Robert and Shirley Blanchard, she was a graduate of George Washington University. She joined the U.S. Army on July 6, 2000, and was a medical laboratory specialist.

Sgt. . Miller served in South Korea and later volunteered to serve with the 47th Combat Support Hospital in Iraq for six months until November 2006. She received the Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal and was poshumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.

She is survived by daughter Kassidy Laine Miller and her parents.

Funeral arrangements are in the care of Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home in Laconia.

Tyler William Smith

1992-2008

A memorial service was March 7 for Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School student Tyler William Smith, 15, who died Feb. 23, 2008.

Born Sept. 22, 1992, to Wendy Bacus and Jeff Smith, Tyler lived in Topaz Lake Estates with his father and brother, Trevor.

Tyler was an outgoing young man with a big personality, always ready for a practical joke, an afternoon at the skate park or dirtbike ride. Tyler was a musician playing several instruments, including the trumpet, guitar and drums.

Tyler is survived by his mother and step-father Wendy and Doug Bacus; father Jeff Smith; brother Trevor; sisters Krystal and Brandi Smith; cousin Kurtis Hancock; uncle Jason Smith and family; aunt Amanda Jones and family; grandmothers Roz Shepard and Betty O'Banion.

Family members would like to thank those who attended the March 7 service and law enforcement officers who helped make the celebration of Tyler's life safe.