Gay Miller

Gay Miller, age 84 of Springboro, passed away Thursday, May 15, 2025. She was surrounded by the love of her family and friends.

She was born January 17, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois the daughter of Gail Compton and Janice Compton Hicks. As a young girl she starred with her father on the TV show, The Pet Shop out of the Chicago area which ran from 1951-1953.

Gay graduated from Coral Gables High School and went on to attend a year at Texas Women’s University. Gay was married in 1959 and started her family in 1960. She moved to Bay Village, a suburb on the west side of Cleveland. She enjoyed raising her family and was very involved in her local community. Gay spent many years as a marketing director for Cleveland area shopping malls before marrying the love of her life Ken Miller in 1984, and moving to Dayton, Ohio.

Gay decided to change careers, go back to school and graduate with her medical assistant degree. She worked for several medical practices in the Dayton area before retiring.

She enjoyed working in her garden, decorating and “piddling” in her home. She loved her dogs and so many rescues found their forever homes with her. When she wasn’t doting on her dogs she was feeding and caring for all birds in the neighborhood. Watching them gave her great peace and joy. She was very creative and enjoyed miniatures, leaded glass, cross stitch, floral arranging, collecting antique furniture and glassware which she called going ‘jookin.’

Gay was a person of great faith and spread God’s word to whomever needed to hear it. She attended both Southbrook Christian Church and Fairhaven Church. She dearly loved Ken, her family, her dear friends but most of all she loved God and was active in her bible study fellowship.

Gay was a very caring person who loved to take care of others. She lived with her eyes, ears and heart wide open to the needs of others. She would give the shirt off her back and every penny she had to someone in need. She will be deeply missed.

Gay is survived by daughters, Kelly Lynn (Bill) Stone, and Laurie Ann (Pete) Tinsley; son, James Andrew (Amanda) Reynolds Jr.; granddaughters, Christine (Mark) Balsan, Lindsey (Zach) Cline, and Courtney (Philip Treely) Paisley; grandsons, Michael Paisley, Justin Reynolds, Jacob Reynolds, Kaden Reynolds, and Callan Reynolds; great-grandsons, Parker Balsan, Graham Balsan, Miller Cline, and Henry Treely; greatgranddaughters, Lila Cline, Piper Cline, Maisley Cline, great-granddaughter Treely on the way; brother Chris (Peggy) Compton, sister, Barb (Luis) Lamar, her dear friend Philipe and by numerous other family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 35 years, Kenneth Cyril Miller; parents, Gail Compton and Janice Hicks; step-father, Melville Hicks; and brother, Don Compton.

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Day City Hospice for their gentle love and comfort. The last 4 years of her life she lived in the senior community of The Enclave of Springboro. To say that she was cared for and loved was an understatement. After living there for 3 months she confessed that she, “loved living there, felt safe and loved.” In addition, we would like to thank all of the aides, nurses, and staff at The Enclave for the incredible love and care they gave Mom the past four years. They became family and our lives are better because of them.

Memorial Donations may be made to: Day City Hospice who are incredible at what they do. 7601 Paragon Road, Suite 203, Dayton, OH 45459; or to The Enclave of Springboro, 355 W. Central Avenue, Springboro, OH 45066 for two permanent planters filled with flowers to be on either side of the entrance of the lobby and a memorial bench to be enjoyed by all who live and work there.

Visitation will be held Monday, June 2, 2025, at Southbrook Christian Church, (9095 Washington Church Rd, Miamisburg, OH 45342) from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 am with a luncheon to follow. All are welcome. Please wear bright colors as Mom would want us all to rejoice together. To share a memory of Gay or leave a special message for her family, please visit the Guestbook below.