On Friday, June 17, 2022, Richard Roy Miles, “Rick” passed peacefully at his home in Harper, Texas at the age of 70.
Rick was born on December 6, 1951, in Bethesda, Maryland to Roy Michael Miles and Anna Marie Krager Miles. Rick spent most of his life on the family ranch in Harper, a place he called home for more than 40 years. He enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as raising rabbits on the ranch, but his most profound love was for his family. He took pride in his title as son, husband, father, uncle, and friend. And though he loved it out in the country where he could talk to God whenever he wanted, his heart has always lived in the ocean.
As a child, his family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where at the age of 8 Rick fell in love with the ocean. His family later moved to Newfields, New Hampshire, where Rick developed an even larger attachment to the ocean through surfing. It's where he was most at peace. Rick excelled at the sport and in his younger years was one of the top semi-professional surfers on the East Coast—at a time when surfing was exploding in the United States.
Rick also had a fondness for growing things and always had some sort of plant project he was working on. He loved to watch things grow and found even more joy in gifting those plants to his family and friends. In addition to plants, he loved the birds and always made sure to have seed out for them to eat. He often sat on the porch and enjoyed watching all the birds love the ranch alongside him, especially the painted buntings. He frequently referred to himself as an amateur ornithologist, and rightly so—he could name almost any bird on sight. Above all, Rick enjoyed sharing his life with his family, his friends, and of course, his dog, Whiskey.
Rick was preceded in death by both of his parents, and his brother, Michael Miles. He is survived by his sister, Deborah Miles; his brother, Kenneth Miles and wife Karen; his daughter, Nicole Hayward and husband Steven; his nephew, Jesse Miles and wife Shelley and their children Kelsey (and family), Kaylee, and Kendi; his niece, Heather Newton and husband Robert and their children Taylor, Garrett, and Devin; his nephew, Graham Miles and wife Lindsay and their children Colton, Asher, and Hayden, as well as many other family members and close friends.
At Rick’s request, there will be no funeral or memorial service. Instead, his immediate family will hold a private celebration of life and release his ashes into the ocean.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Rick's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the American Cancer Society, two organizations close to his heart. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital—Donate by Phone: (800) 608-3023; E-Mail: donors@stjude.org, American Cancer Society—www.cancer.org
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