Obituary: Kent Miller, 76

Kent Miller passed away on September 22, 2017, after a remarkable 76 years of life. He was born in Petersburg to Richard and Vern Miller, both children of early Alaska pioneers. He graduated from Petersburg High School in 1959, attended the US Naval Academy and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1965.

Kent and his then wife, Judy, raised four children, spending years in both Bainbridge Island near Seattle and in Ketchikan. Kent truly had a pioneer spirit. He loved Alaska and spent much of his later adult life in Ketchikan and Prince of Wales Island. He was a leader in community building. He was instrumental in the development of the Inter-island Ferry Authority and its service between Prince of Wales Island and Ketchikan, redevelopment of the downtown Ketchikan Spruce Mill site, planning for the Ketchikan Shipyard and development of the Cape Fox Lodge. Kent was a valued participant and volunteer in numerous community design and historic preservation projects. A strong supporter of the arts, he also had a passion for the outdoors and a deep appreciation for the natural beauty of the area.

Kent was adventurous throughout his life. He worked and traveled in many parts of the world including Brazil, West Africa and Australia, climbed Deer Mountain in all kinds of weather (over 200 times), was an avid reader across many diverse subjects, and was never reluctant to offer his opinion (sometimes at his peril) on matters ranging from design details of his immediate environment to local, national and global politics.

Kent is survived by his four children, Meredith, Sarah, Alec and Robin, nephew Brian, and five grandchildren. He leaves many close friends in Ketchikan, Craig, and elsewhere who will miss his sense of humor, his brilliant mind, his dynamic conversations and witty repartee, his passion for all that he believed in, and his wonderful laugh.

A private ceremony to celebrate Kent's life will be held. His ashes will join the waters of Alaska near his favorite walking paths and places. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ketchikan Arts and Humanities Council or Historic Ketchikan.

Please sign the online guest book at

http://memorialwebsites.legacy.com/kentmiller/homepage.aspx to share any memories or sympathies you may wish.