Gurney C. Miller

Gurney C. Miller, 69, 2359 Upper Stone Mountain Road, Unicoi passed away peacefully at his residence Wednesday, December 4, 2013. He was a native of Carter County and was a son of the late John Miller and Maude Roberts Miller Byrd. Mr. Miller retired from the U.S Forest Service after 36 years of service. After retirement he worked for the Unicoi County Sheriff's Department for 5 years. He was a faithful member of the Maranatha Tabernacle where he played guitar in the church band and was also a member of the OASIS Group. Gurney loved playing his guitar, gardening, reading his Bible and watching Westerns. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his only son, Matthew Lee Miller; three brothers, Bill Miller, Junior Byrd and James Miller; his father and mother-in-law, Maynard and Jo Blevins; also a sister-in-law, Dottie Blevins. I say "goodbye" to my dearest family and faithful friends and embrace my Lord as he says, "Welcome Home" my son. My faith is now sight and I see things that you can only imagine. (Heb. 11:1). I walk streets of gold and drink from the well that will never go dry and I will never ever thirst again. Survivors include his loving wife of 43 years, Alice Blevins Miller; a granddaughter, Brionnah Marie Miller; a brother, Ed Miller and his wife, Sanobia of Hampton; a sister, Melba Davis of Unicoi; three brothers-in-law. Spencer Blevins and Walter Blevins both of Unicoi and Charles Blevins and wife, Diane of Surgoinsville; a sister-in-law, Wanda Schroder and husband, Charles of Unicoi; several nieces and nephews; special friends, Eli Bratton, Junior Street, Charles Erwin, Steve Hefflin and family and his entire church family. Funeral services for Gurney will be conducted at 8:00 PM Friday December 6, 2013 in the Maranatha Tabernacle off Buckeye Road in Unicoi with Pastor E.L. Wheeler officiating. The family will receive friends at the church Friday from 5:00 PM until the service hour. Graveside services will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, December 7, 2013 in the Bell Cemetery in Unicoi. Active pallbearers will be Steve Simerly, John Adkins, Kevin Bratton, Kyle Tipton, David Penley, Leonard Dugger and Spencer Blevins. Honorary pallbearers will be his co-workers from the U.S. Forest Service and the Unicoi County Sheriff's Department and the men of Maranatha Tabernacle. Everyone attending this service is asked to meet at the cemetery by 10:50 AM. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Lincoln Olsen, Dr. Jason Colinger, Dr. Michael Cook, Wanda Shelton and the entire staff of Mountain States Hospice Group. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorials be made to the Maranatha Tabernacle OASIS Group, 122 Timberidge Road, Erwin, TN 37650. Visitation: Friday - 5:00 to 8:00 PM Services: Friday - 8:00 PM Interment: 11:00 AM Saturday - Bell CemeteryNRead Obituary