Norman “Don” Miller, age 79, resident of Fort Scott, Kansas, died Thursday, June 16, 2022, at Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada, Missouri.
He was born July 26, 1942, in Fort Scott, the son of Roy and Leora Heitz Miller. He graduated from FSHS with the class of 1960 where he played sports and was a self-proclaimed terrible student. He attended JUCO in Fort Scott prior to entering service in the U. S. Army.
Following the Army, Don graduated from Pittsburg State University with a master’s in education. He married Shauneen Bond on Aug. 29, 1964, in Fort Scott. She preceded him in death on Jan. 25, 2007. He began his teaching and coaching career in Coffeyville, Kansas. After moving back to Fort Scott, Don taught at the Junior High School and Fort Scott JUCO. His teaching and coaching career garnered many awards including Master Teacher Award 1981, and the Kansas Teacher Hall of Fame 2001. He established the middle school Pride Program as well as Washington Workshop. He was a member of KNEA, served as HPA board President and was a member of Community Christian Church. Don’s sense of humor never failed when reminiscing with former students and athletes.
Survivors include two daughters, Tanya Miller, Fort Scott, and Erin Ponte and husband Brian, Fresno, California; a sister, Diane Yager, Smithville, Missouri; a granddaughter, Madison Ponte as well as Tanner, Brityn, Beckham, and Jordy Fox; and nieces and nephews Kim Boham, David Bond, Lindsay Schossow, Morgan Boham, Elise Yager, Kristy Yager, Tony Yager, Justin Parks, Stacey Snodgrass, and Laurie Short. Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Connie Miller Parks, and Sharon Short; and his parents.
Rev. Dusty Drake will conduct funeral services at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 21, at the Community Christian Church. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. A memorial gathering will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 20, at the Fort Scott Middle School, with casual “Tiger” gear encouraged. Memorials are suggested to either HPA or the Don Miller Scholarship Fund and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, PO Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
