Lee A. Miller

Lee was a leader, built community, left things better than he found them, and showed up to help.

Jan. 2, 1931 – Dec. 24, 2024

Lee lived a long and fruitful life, developing lifelong friendships across business, civic, club, and community organizations. He was a genuine human being, known for his keen sense of humor and well-loved laugh.

Lee was an active member of many clubs, including the Seattle College Club, American Legion, Vashon Sportsmen’s Club, the W7VMI Ham Radio Club, and the Seattle Tennis Club.

A respected leader in the Seattle banking industry, Lee was an Honorary Life Member of the Seattle Bond Club, Chairman of the Securities Industry Association PNW District, and a longtime Board Member of the Haas Foundation (now InvestEd). He supported many charities, focusing especially on those supporting education for all children.

Born the middle of three boys in the family farmhouse in Erick, Oklahoma, Lee knew dirt floors, driving oxen, and cotton picking before the family moved to Modesto, California, in 1940. He graduated from high school there and joined the Army at 16, serving in Japan in 1947–48. Qualifying for the GI Bill, he returned to California and graduated from UC Berkeley with a major in accounting. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, which provided many lifelong friendships, and was also a member of MENSA.

After university, Lee entered the banking industry, which took him from Salt Lake City to San Francisco, and then to Seattle in 1962, where he began his career with Merrill Lynch. His career took him to Alaska, New York, and around the country, supporting the development of municipalities in Alaska and along the West Coast, earning him a “Half-Million Miler” award from United Airlines.

In Seattle, Lee met his wife, Joan Anderson of Cedar Falls, Iowa; they married in 1964 and settled in Bellevue, where they raised their family. Also in Seattle, Lee began his lifelong interest in boating, served as a Seafair Judge, and was an avid sailboat racer, navigator, and deckhand—from early FINCA racing and Leschi nights to numerous West Coast regattas, Pacific crossings, and 25 Swiftsures.

In 1989, Lee and Joan moved to Vashon Island, where they immersed themselves in the community. There, Lee served a term on the VashonMaury Community Council, served as President of the VSC, was an active member of the American Legion and Ham club, and was a dedicated patron of Granny’s Attic (a true child of the Depression, he valued reuse, saved every nail, screw, and bit of string, and kept everything that could be of future use).

Lee enjoyed many hunting and fishing trips to Alaska and loved the discovery of travel, seeing much of the world, from the Pacific islands in the west to Turkey in the east. He instilled an interest in travel in his children, too, with adventurous family vacations.

Lee read broadly and had a great memory for details. He was an easy conversationalist with anyone on just about any topic, and valued listening to the opinions of others. He did not just associate with people like himself; he got along with, and was a friend to, people of all walks of life. He preferred photos that included people and filled his life with relationships.

Lee was a leader in many organizations, built community, worked to leave things better than when he encountered them, and always showed up for opportunities to help.

Lee A. Miller passed away of natural causes on Christmas Eve, surrounded by family, in Redmond, WA. He is survived by his loving wife, Joan; two of his children, Scott (Rosemary) and Linda (Dan Stone); daughter-in-law, Shannon; and five grandchildren: Peter, Robert, David, Thomas, and Madeleine Piper. Lee was preceded in death by his son, Andrew, and his brothers, Loren and Ronald.

A service will be held on Saturday, June 14th, at St. Jude Catholic Church 10526 166th Ave NE, Redmond, at 11:00am, followed by a reception at Emerald Heights, 10901 176th Circle NE, Redmond. Lee loved sayings, quotes, and aphorisms, and collected and wrote them down right to the end.

“Be the reason someone smiles today.”