Gary Lee "Leo" Miller

Gary Lee “Leo” Miller, 69, of Gainesville, FL, passed away on July 2, 2023, at the E.T. York Hospice Care Center. He was born on January 6, 1954, in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Gary was raised in South Wheeling, where he attended St. Mary’s Church and graduated from Wheeling High School in 1973. After graduation, he worked from 1977-1982 at Fostoria Glass in Moundsville, WV. He then began his career at Wheeling Hospital, where he worked for over 20 years while he successfully completed his A.A. in Nursing in 1987 from West Virginia Northern Community College and became an RN. Ever interested in alternative approaches to caretaking, Gary then attended Massage School and became a Licensed Massage Therapist. He took on clients at Frederick’s Salon & Spa in Wheeling, and when he was feeling generous (which was always), he would give his family and friends free massages. After leaving Wheeling Hospital to work for Valley Hospice at Liza’s Place for several years, Gary and his wife, Sue, relocated to Gainesville, FL in 2015 to be closer to their daughter, Emily, and her family. There, he worked for Haven Hospice at the E.T. York Hospice Care Center until he retired in 2021. In a full circle moment, it was his beloved colleagues at E.T. York who cared for him during his last days.

Though nursing, massage, and caretaking were a big part of his life, Gary also had a lot of interests outside of work. A member of Queen of Peace Parish in Gainesville, he was part of the “Band of Brothers” Men’s spiritual group. He loved reading about Eastern medicine and philosophy, doing Tai Chi, and hiking in Appalachia. He could talk for hours about music, from rock icons like Frank Zappa, RUSH, Yes, and Pink Floyd, to his love of female vocalists like Sarah Brightman, Annie Lennox, and Stevie Nicks. He loved listening to vinyl records and going to concerts, and he always had music on wherever he was. He had a knack for telling stories and jokes. His stories about life in South Wheeling were legendary, and his sense of humor was unparalleled. But above all, he was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He met and married fellow RN, Sue Ellen (née Rine), in 1988 and became father to her daughter Emily. From their home in Bridgeport, OH, he became well acquainted with traveling, frequently going back-and-forth to Boston, New York, State College, cross-country to Eugene, OR, and even to Germany so that they could have family time together. His last major sojourn to keep the family together was in relocating to Gainesville, FL in 2015 to be with his daughter, son-in-law (Kevin), and grandsons (James & Marcus). He lived out those final years in his favorite role as “Poppy”. Poppy was known for watching endless YouTube videos with the grandkids, doing pickups and drop-offs at soccer and Sun Country, and regaling the kids with stories about South Wheeling. There is nothing he loved more than being Poppy, and his legacy will be in the love he gave and surrounded his family with.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 34 years, Sue Ellen (Rine) Miller; his daughter, Dr. Emily Rine Butler and her husband, Dr. Kevin Butler; his grandsons, James and Marcus Butler; his sister, Jean Turklay, nephew, Ray Sabo; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and dear friends who were family to him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Geneva Miller, and his brother, Gerry Miller.