Deborah Deanna Henry Miller

Deborah Deanna Henry Miller, 74, passed away on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. Born in Daytona Beach, FL on September 13, 1950, Debbie was the only child and pride and joy of her parents, Frank and Alice Henry. She graduated from Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach in 1968. Debbie was an avid dancer who enjoyed boosting morale and entertaining the troops by performing in many countries overseas with the USO’s Youth Varieties Touring Group from 1969 to 1972. After returning to her hometown of Ormond Beach, FL, she met her devoted husband, Alfred “Rick” Miller in 1971, and the two wed on July 8, 1972.

Debbie and Rick then moved to Vero Beach, FL, where she worked as a Customer Service Parts Specialist at Piper Aircraft for 43 years from 1974 to 2017. They enjoyed traveling throughout the country together, and Debbie always had a love of flowers and natural beauty. She was excited to visit many botanical gardens and natural parks and often recounted memories from their adventures to family and friends. When home, Debbie could often be found tending to her beautiful orchids, roses, and hibiscus plants.

Becoming a mother was one of Debbie’s greatest joys. She and Rick welcomed their son Matthew and daughter Michelle, and their lives became a busy cycle of work, school, sports, and dance. She effortlessly balanced her many roles while ensuring her family knew and felt her love and pride for them.

Debbie and Rick’s love only strengthened throughout the years as their family grew and they were promoted to their favorite and most often used titles of “Mimi and Pap-Pap”. Their son Matt and daughter-in-law Stacey blessed them with granddaughters Macey and Mackenzie. Their daughter Michelle and son-in-law Bill added three more beautiful granddaughters to the mix: Madelyn, Lillian, and Evelyn. “Mimi” never failed to make the girls’ favorite treats of key lime pie, sugar cookies, deviled eggs, and her famous spaghetti for family gatherings.

Debbie was predeceased by her grandparents, mother (Alice Rose Henry), father (Francis Henry), and sister-in-law Debbi Thornton. She is survived by and will be deeply missed by her devoted husband of 52 years, her honey, Alfred “Rick” Miller; her children, son Matthew (Stacey) Miller and daughter Michelle (Bill) Long, all of Vero Beach, FL. She will be remembered as “the best Mimi who spoiled us” by granddaughters Macey and Mackenzie Miller and Madelyn, Lillian, and Evelyn Long. She also is survived by sisters-in-law Joyce (Jerry) Sale and Melissa Miller, and nephews Jason Davis and Josh Miller and their families. Many friends and family will also remember her with love and miss her bright smile and positive spirit.

A celebration of life will be arranged at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to McKee Botanical Garden, Vero Beach, FL, a place which she loved to explore and admire.

Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.