David Austin Miller Sr., a late in life baby, was born April 27, 1932, to Bluford West (Bunch) Miller and Mamie Juliet Thurmond Miller and passed from this life March 12, 2026.
Dave attended Concharty School and Twin Hills Grade School, Junior High and High School. After attending high school, he attended Oklahoma A&M, now Oklahoma State University, majoring in Animal Husbandry. His high school basketball coach urged him to go out for basketball, but he became interested in the new A&M Rodeo Club. He helped get it organized and made the team the second year, which inspired him to be a lifetime member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
He also became interested in Esther Mae Magness from Geary. Dave married Esther on August 16, 1953, just before he was drafted into the United States Army. Dave’s rodeo and college ambition was interrupted by the Korean War. After basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas and Fort Lee, Virginia, he was on his way to Korea. A unit in Japan needed typists and Dave had taken typing in high school, so he spent the rest of the war closing out the equipment for the 1st Calvary Division. Although he was classified as enlisted and not authorized to have a wife there, he somehow managed to get passage and a Japanese apartment to legally get Esther to occupied Japan. They lived in a Japanese house close to other Americans for about 15 months. When they sailed home on the USS Breckenridge, Dave was with the enlisted men and Esther was with the civilian group. They settled in on Dave’s father’s farm on the Cimarron River west of Mannford.
Dave drove back and forth three days a week to finish his college degree. During the Mannford years, Dave was baptized at the old First Christian Church in Mannford. Three sons were born during the Mannford years, David Austin Jr., John Aldon and Mark James.
After the death of Dave’s father and mother, they moved to the family ranch in northern April 27, 1932 – March 12, 2026
Okmulgee County. There they raised their children and had a good life. Dave wore many hats and in his lifetime he made many lifelong friends, which he cherished. David Jr. married Tracey Ridle, John married Stacy Shearhart and Mark married Kim Davis. Dave Jr. and Tracey have three girls, Ginger, Grace and Gabrielle Miller. John and Stacy have a son, Tanner Miller. Mark has a son, Robert Miller, a daughter, Maegan Miller McCalla and three stepsons, Travis Tollette, Dillon Hood and Blake Hood.
Dave enjoyed spending time with his family. For days after a birthday party or holiday gathering, Dave told Esther how much he loved the day that was spent with his children and grandchildren.
Dave was active in Okmulgee County Cattleman’s Association, where he served on the board as President. He was State Cattleman’s President and on the National Cattleman’s Beef Board. While State Cattleman’s President, he was instrumental in getting the Range Round-Up up and running. Thousands of dollars are donated to Children’s Miracle Network from proceeds of the Range Round-Up.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and two sisters, Bluford Jr., John Jacob, Robert Lee, Elizabeth and Juliet Miller Adelman. He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Esther Miller; his sons, David Miller Jr. and wife Tracey, John Miller and wife Stacy and Mark Miller and wife Kim; his grandchildren, Robert Miller, Maegan McCalla and husband Sean, Tanner Miller and wife Courtney, Ginger Miller, Grace Miller and Gabrielle Miller; great grandchildren, Allison Miller, Guy Miller, Ellie McCalla and Hudson Miller.
Family will be receiving friends from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026, at McClendon- Winters Funeral Home in Okmulgee. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Natura Baptist Church, with Rev. Scott McCullah officiating. Interment will follow at the Miller Ranch Cemetery.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Mc-Clendon-Winters Funeral Home of Okmulgee. Memories, condolences, photos and videos may be shared with the family on David’s Tribute Page at www.mcclendon-winters. com.
