In Memoriam - Goodbye Eddy Miller

Charles Edmund "Eddy" Miller IV August 31, 1952 - June 20, 2009

Oh, the stories to be told. . . "Eddy lived life from his soul" Eddy's way on "Eddy time".

Celebration of Life for Eddy
Monday, August 3, 2009
4:00 pm
Aspen Hall, 18920 Shevlin Park Road, Bend, Oregon
Anyone who would like to come is welcome.

We are so sad that our wonderful friend and paddle buddy, Eddy Miller died this past week in a hiking accident on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. For details about the accident, see KOHD's short video about Eddy.

It's hard to say enough wonderful things about Eddy Miller or to say the right things that convey how important he was to everyone.

Eddy exuded happiness and kindness. He was an intellectually curious person whose bright blue eyes would spark with interest. He loved to talk about the metaphysical and natural world. He knew the names and nature of every plant, insect and animal in or on the waterways. He was a fearless athlete and outdoorsman, excellent skier and inland waterman. He was up for most any adventure.

Eddy picked up trash, kept an eye on people's safety (he'd be sure to round up stragglers when we were on river trips) and was in all ways a shining example of how a human could live his or her life,

not only in the details of his life but with the loving kindness of his attitude. Eddy leaves behind his wife Ann Miller and his large family of sisters, brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews. He leaves the rest of us the richer for knowing him.

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The Bend Bulletin wrote about Eddy's accident. Here's an excerpt:

Body of missing Bend man found in remote Idaho

The search for a missing Bend man came to an end on Wednesday in a remote section of eastern Idaho.

Searchers organized by the Lemhi County Sheriff's Office found the body of Eddie Miller, 57, about 300 feet down a cliff side.

An avid outdoorsman, Miller was on a rafting trip along the Middle Fork of the Salmon River with a group. Miller went on a Saturday afternoon hike along ridges of the Frank Church - River of No Return Wilderness and didn't come back, according to Sheriff Sam Slavin. Miller had lived in Bend, for more than 30 years, friends said.

The area Miller hiked was remote and technical, Slavin said. And the region had experienced an unusual stretch of rain, making the rocks slippery, according to Slavin. After about four days of searching by a group that included the Montana Army National Guard, searchers found Miller's body against a cliffside tree.

"We can only assume he somehow lost his balance and fell off," Slavin said. Friends of Miller described him as adventurous. Win Francis had been friends with Miller for 50 years, and the two spent endless hours on rivers across the Northwest. "There's nobody I've been through everything like that with."

Miller was a perfectionist in his work as a carpenter and log home builder. Francis said.

"He was a superb carpenter." Francis said. "he was a master. He was a craftsman. . . . . READ MORE

Photo of log building, Oregon: Left - Eddy Miller, Greg Steckler, Burt Hurst, Dean Rogers

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Obituary from the Miller family:

While on a rafting trip on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho, Eddy took an evening hike to get a view. This was one of his passions - looking for the perfect view that framed the day. It was to be his final hike. He slipped and fell off a cliff high above his river camp. The view from where he last stood was spectacular. Eddy lived as he died - doing something he loved to do.

Eddy and his twin sister, Jessie, were born in Portland, Oregon to Charles E Miller III and his wife, Mary. After graduation from Fountain Valley School in COlorado Springs, COlorado, Eddy took the road less traveled and attended the "University of Making a Life for Himself" in classic Eddy style - a curriculum that embraced his deep love for the outdoors and his life's work as a log home builder and gifted craftsman. He perfected the fine art of living, whether he was sheepherding, rafting, fly-fishing, building, skiing or standup paddling. Nature was his greatest teacher, both on the rivers and in the mountains.

His parents had prepared him and his three sisters well for the skills required to thrive in the great outdoors. Fly-fishing was at the top of the list, followed closely by spending summers in the British Columbia wilderness and working on the family cattle ranch. He also developed an insatiable appetite for reading.

Eddy worked magic with wood and tools. His eye for function, balance and beauty is apparent in the home Eddy created for Ann, the love of his life. Eddy and Ann Thatcher were married in September 1985. Their love, like his craftsmanship, knew no boundaries.

As a longtime resident of Bend, Oregon, Eddy made friends with everyone he met. His easy smile and infectious laugh are qualities that all who knew him will remember. Eddy's extraordinary life left a gift for every life he touched - the pure love and joy of being alive. His hug was the confirmation of life itself.

We will miss his "short little outings" that turned into all day adventures. We still do them because we can.

Eddy is survived by his wife, Ann: his twin sister, Jessie Opel of Whitefish, Montana; sisters, Wendy Johnson of Portland, Oregon and Cameron Kerr of Bend, Oregon: six nieces, two nephews and six grand-nephews.

Eddy's family thanks everyone for their love and sincere support. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Deschutes River Conservancy, 700 NW Hill St., Bend, OR 97701 or the Fresh Water Trust (formerly Oregon Trout), 65 SW Yamhill St., Suite 200, Portland, OR 97204.

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