Carl Raymond Duncan Miller, 93

Carl Miller, raised in Rainy River, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 13, 2011, at the age of 93, at Comox, British Columbia. Carl's grandparents (Robert and Agnes Miller, Andrew and Lucy Park) were among the very first settlers and founding families of Rainy River, as were Carl's parents (William) Edward Miller and Clara Park. Carl and his older brothers Clarence and Harold were all raised at Rainy River, with aunts, uncles and cousins from the Park, Miller, Tullis, Farrer, Cameron and other families. Miller's Creek is named for his grandfather and granduncle who settled either side of the river.
Carl was born September 18, 1918, at Devlin (Lavallee) where his parents had homesteaded for a short time, his older brothers having been born at the old Miller homestead in Rainy River. At the age of 2, his parents returned to Rainy River, where Carl spent the rest of his childhood and youth years, and his father worked for the CNR railroad company. Carl was educated at the University in Winnipeg, graduating in 1940 with a degree in geology and physics. Following graduation, he enrolled in the RCAF as a navigator. Before leaving for overseas service in WWII, he met and in March of 1943 married Florence Ada Tabbert Chant, of Saskatchewan. He received the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) for his military service. On return to Canada, Carl worked in mining and geology exploration in many places across Canada, where he and Florence made life-long friends and raised their four daughters along the way - from Flin Flon in Manitoba, to Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, British Columbia, and back to Manitoba. They retired to British Columbia, and eventually moved to the Courtenay/Comox Valley area. While on family vacations in Ontario, Carl took his daughters to visit Rainy River, and he has passed down family stories, town history and photographs to his children and grandchildren.
Carl is remembered in love by his four daughters and five grandchildren - Carolyn (Lorne) Laukkonen of Richmond BC; Jean (Terry) Lewis of Courtenay BC and their sons Mark and Trev; Joan (John) Vogt of Prince George BC and their sons Dave and Rob; Ann (Bob) Herbert of Australia, and their daughter Sarah. He will also be remembered by his sisters-in-law, his many nieces and nephews and their families, and his cousins. He is predeceased by his brothers and their wives, and by his own beloved wife of 65 years Florence, who died in 2008, and also by his cousin Clinton Park, life-long resident of Rainy River. Carl and Florence are buried at Courtenay Cemetery.