John Michael Miller

 John Michael Miller, “Mike”, passed away on the evening of January 29, 2024, surrounded by his wife and children. Mike was born November 29, 1940, in Millersburg, Ohio, the son of John and Lucille (Snyder) Miller. He grew up in Wadsworth, Ohio, and played football at the College of Wooster, graduating in 1962. Following graduation, Mike attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and began a successful 31-year career as a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy. 

 Mike loved serving his country and spent his first tour with the crew of the U.S.S. Richard B. Anderson, based out of San Diego. He went on to serve three tours in Vietnam and deployed around the world multiple times during his career. Mike commanded the U.S.S. Bluebird, U.S.S. Bigelow, U.S.S. Vreeland, Destroyer Squadron 24, and Destroyer Squadron 12. He earned his Master’s Degree at the University of Washington, studied Mandarin Chinese at the Defense Language School in Monterey and the Chinese Naval War College in Taipei. When he was not at sea, Mike spent tours at the Pentagon, as the Director of Strategy at the National War College and as the Director of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. Following his transition from the United States Navy, he worked as an Executive Director at Logistics Services International (LSI) before retiring in 2008.

He met his loving wife, Susie Myers, while working in Washington D.C., and they married in October 1970. During his time in the Navy, they were stationed all over the country and world (Okinawa, Seattle, San Diego, Monterey, Taipei, Washington D.C., Jacksonville). Mike and Susie were married for over 53 years and enjoyed retirement in Neptune Beach. A wonderful husband and dad, Mike was thoughtful and kind, generous and supportive. He attended thousands of his children’s sporting events, played competitive tennis into his late 70’s, volunteered in the local community, and was a parishioner at St. Paul’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church.

 A lover of good books, movies, and sports, he could be found frequently sitting in his favorite chair simultaneously speed-reading a novel while watching a ball game. He loved a good joke, a swim in the ocean, and spending time with his family. A talented artist, he enjoyed selling art at local fairs, and painting turtles on ball caps for fellow members of the Beaches Sea Turtle Patrol.

 In recent years, Mike enjoyed sitting in his front yard with his beloved dog, Cappy, while watching the world go by, often taking her to the beach in the morning for a stroll. Susie adopted Cappy at the Jacksonville Humane Society 14 years ago, but Mike was Cappy’s “person”. Cappy died the morning after Mike passed away, and they are now both sitting side-by-side enjoying the sunrise together.

 Mike is survived by his wife Susie, four children, Kelly, Nancy, John (Kristin) and Sally, six grandchildren, Royce, Hadley, Landon, Tyler, Vivian, and Teddy, and his two sisters, Lucy Belt and Becky Askew. Memorial services will be held later this summer with the interment at the Jacksonville National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to your charity of choice.