Douglas 'Doug' Banks Miller, 67
Douglas ‘Doug’ Banks Miller, 67
Douglas “Doug” Banks Miller, 67, passed peacefully away on Jan. 23, 2016, with his loving wife, Barb, there to comfort him.
Doug was born on Oct. 13, 1948, in Charlottesville, Virginia, and grew up in Front Royal, Virginia. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Roanoke College in Roanoke, Virginia.
Doug was an extremely active entrepreneur, working a short time for an office supply company, then branching off on his own to run a salvage business, a residential building business, and a computer software business. Always the outdoors person, he enjoyed and was excellent at skiing, sailing and tennis and was an experienced pilot, starting his flying lessons when he was 16 and owning several single-engine airplanes over his lifetime. He was a ski area manager and ski instructor and won a Virginia Governor’s Cup race at the Massanutten, Virginia, ski resort. Since moving to Montana in 2006, he became a frequent skier at Blacktail Mountain and was well known there by staff and skiers alike.
Doug met his wife, Barbara (Fisher) Shewbridge, in 1980 and they married in 1981, making an instant family with Doug the stepfather to Barb’s two boys, Chip and Michael Shewbridge. They lived most of their married life in Richmond, Virginia. Over their 34 years of marriage, Doug designed and physically built four houses for the family: one in Richmond, one on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and two in Lakeside, where he and Barb retired in 2006. He was a loving and caring father to both boys, who state that they would not be who they are today, if it weren’t for Doug’s influence, lessons and values.
Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Robert E. Lee Miller Jr. and Dorothy Alice (Banks) Miller, formerly of Front Royal.
He is survived by his wife, Barb Miller, of Lakeside; and his two stepsons, Charles W. “Chip” Shewbridge IV of Potomac Falls, Virginia, and Michael P. Shewbridge of Richmond; and two stepgrandsons, in Potomac Falls.
Doug will be remembered for his quirky sense of humor, his love of life, and his willingness to step up and help others in need. He led an active and enthusiastic life filled with the love of his family.
Memorials in Doug’s name can be made to the Somers Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 187, Somers, MT 59932; or Lakeside QRU, 201 Bills Road, Lakeside, MT 59922.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is taking care of the family. A small, family-only memorial will be held to disburse Doug’s ashes at the location of his choice on property overlooking Flathead Lake.