Hurley Gene Miller
July 20, 1952 — March 25, 2021

Hurley was born in Eureka, and, from the age of four, spent most of his life in the Fieldbrook home he grew up in. He attended Fieldbrook Elementary School and Arcata High where countless lifelong friendships were formed.

Like many young northern California men of his generation, he began working in the lumber industry out of high school, first at Simpson Lumber and later in the woods. His one and only marriage was to Sally Dupree and together they welcomed a son, Jason, and a daughter, Heather, into the world before eventually divorcing. Hurley was a quiet, soft-spoken man, but those traits belied a deeper, more complex side. To know him on a personal level was to know a well-read, intelligent, insightful man who could speak knowledgeably on most any subject. He had a generous, sensitive heart and would give away nearly anything he owned to a friend who needed it more. While his two sisters would describe him as a pesky little pain in the butt as a little boy, even they now concede that he grew up to be the gentle and kind soul his friends speak of today.

Hurley was never a man of wealth in traditional terms, his wealth was in a commodity of much greater value: that of respect and friendship by the multitude of lives he touched in his short 68 years on earth. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends.

Hurley was preceded in death by is parents, Louis and Velma Miller, a niece, Shana Pringle, and her two year old son Noah. He is survived by his two children, Jason Miller of Fieldbrook, and Heather Ferrel of McAlester, Okla., six grandchildren as well as two sisters, Linda Pringle of Orangevale and Lyla Swales of Eagle, Idaho.

In lieu of a memorial service, his friends hope to organize a Celebration of Life gathering in his honor.

Hurley’s cremains will be scattered in places he frequented and loved the most throughout his life, with special emphasis on his home of Fieldbrook. It seems only fitting that Fieldbrook literally be Hurley’s “forever” home”.

Rest in peace baby brother. Hopefully you always knew how very much your sisters loved you, in spite of the miles between us. You will live in our memory for the rest of our lives and we will remain forever grateful for the time on earth we had with you.