Dan Eugene Miller

December 7, 1935 - November 23, 2020

Dan E. Miller, M.D. passed away Monday, November 23, 2020 at the age of 84. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Ellie, three children and three grandchildren. An accomplished high school athlete and a life-long runner, Dan graduated from Fairview High School in 1954 and later earned degrees from Central Christian College in Bartlesville, Oklahoma State University, Central State University and University of Oklahoma School of Medicine. He served in the Army after graduating from Oklahoma State, and was stationed in Germany for most of his short military career. He brought an MG convertible home with him from his military service, and he always credited his cool car for his successful courtship of Ellie. After graduating from medical school, Dan practiced family medicine in Edmond until 1975, when he moved to Tulsa. There he became a partner in Emergency Care Incorporated, which ran the Saint Francis Emergency Room and he founded one of the first urgent care medical facilities in Oklahoma, MedCenter. In his medical career, Dan practiced family medicine, emergency medicine, industrial medicine, and was one of the first practitioners of telemedicine from Saint Francis Hospital. He was one of the founders of the public trust to provide ambulance service to Tulsa, which later because known as EMSA. He was instrumental in establishing protocols and equipment for start up of EMSA and Tulsa Life Flight. Throughout his career, Dan was known for driving the oldest car in the doctor’s parking lot. His frugality knew a single, life-defining exception: generous giving to others. Countless coworkers, fellow church members, friends and even strangers know that Dan’s generosity took many forms, many of them private and anonymous. Dan loved to travel and took great joy in providing these experiences for his family, hosting ski vacations, a month-long trip to Europe and occasional island getaways with his beloved Ellie. In retirement, he and Ellie travelled more, often to see their friends and fellow alumni of Central Christian College, which has become Oklahoma Christian University. Dan and Ellie helped organize Central Christian Alumni activities and he served on the National Alumni Council for Oklahoma Christian University. In lieu of flowers, you may honor Dan by making a donation to either the Fletcher Center for Music Endowment at Oklahoma Christian, or to a memorial scholarship for pre-med students at Oklahoma Christian in the name of Dan Miller. Send donations to Oklahoma Christian University Advancement, PO BOX 11000, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73136-1100. Dan is survived by his wife, Eleanor Jane Branum Miller of Muskogee, OK, his brother Doyle Miller and sister-in-law Dot Miller, of Hennessey, OK, his sister Janice Laughlin and brother-in-law Craig Laughlin of Copper Canyon, TX; daughter Monna Gilpin and son-in-law James Gilpin of Kingwood, TX ; son Mike Miller and daughter-in-law Holly Rosser Miller of Muskogee, OK; son Matt Miller and daughter-in-law Monica Miller of Muskogee; grandchildren Andrew Gilpin, Meghan Gilpin and Annalea Jane Miller, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his father Harold Miller, his mother Melba Miller and his brother Duane Miller and his mother-in-law and father-in-law Vic and Ruth Branum. With grateful hearts, we extend our appreciation to Muskogee Season’s Hospice, First Call, and Stay Home Services for their loving and excellent care of Dan. Dan was interred at a private family service at Greenhill Cemetery in Muskogee on November 25, 2020. A future celebration of life ceremony is planned for extended family and friends.