Carl Curtis “Corky” Miller, a former Raymond resident, died May 4, 2002, surrounded by his family, from complications of emphysema at Whidbey General Hospital in Coupeville.

He was born to Golda and Theodore (Ted) Miller on June 28, 1928 in Topeka, Kan.

Corky moved to Raymond as a teenager. He married LaVelle Jean Taylor. They remained in Raymond where they raised their family and continued to own and operate Miller’s Radiator and Safety Service, Inc., a business began by his father, Ted.

Following the death of LaVelle in 1977, Corky sold the business to his son and daughter-in-law and moved from the Raymond area to California and then back to Washington with his wife, Judy. He remained employed in the radiator industry working for Liberty and Modine Radiator. He was well respected for his knowledge of the business and compassion for the people in the industry.

Corky’s final home was on Whidbey Island a place he called “a little piece of heaven.” He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. In his earlier years, Corky and LaVelle played in a dance band (Corky was the drummer and LaVelle the piano player). The band played in the local Raymond area. Prior to the onset of emphysema, Corky loved to play golf with his family and friends. He also loved the water and enjoyed a spectacular view from his living room chair of the waters off the island and the Olympic Mountains.

His first wife LaVelle and his parents preceded him in death in 1977 and 1978. He is survived by his wife, Judy, who remains at their home at Lagoon Point in Greenbank; daughter Jeri Lee Jump and companion James Reynolds of Woodinville; granddaughter Julie and her husband John Lukas of Kirklan; daughter Patti Jean Armstrong and son-in-law Bob of Aumsville, Ore.; granddaughter Kymberly Carrels and her fiancee Troy Halstead and great-grandson Tyler of Wilsonville, Ore.; son Michael Carl (Mick) Miller and daughter-in-law Linda of Raymond; and granddaughter Aimee LaVelle Miller and grandson Michael Christian Miller of Raymond. He is also survived by his three step-sons and their families, Kevin and Bev Drew and granddaughters Kaitlyn and Alyssa of Snohomish, Kreg Drew and granddaughter Kristen of Kenmore, and Gunnar Drew of Spokane.

A celebration of life service will be held Friday, May 10 at 2 p.m. at Old Willapa Methodist Church in Old Willapa. The family encourages tax deductible memorial donations be made to Whidbey General Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 641, Coupeville 98239, in support of the planned pulmonary rehabilitation unit of Whidbey General Hospital. Corky was a major inspiration to the development of the proposed unit.