Dr. Miller passed away November 17, 2017

August 20, 1948 – November 17, 2017

Gordon Arthur Miller ’75 of Turner, Oregon passed away from complications of a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurism on November 17, 2017 in Loma Linda, California. Gordon was born in Portland, Oregon to Donald Blair Miller, MD and Wilma Arlene (Hall) Miller August 20, 1948. Dr. Miller married Julie K. Stevenson February 29, 2004 in Montreal, Quebec Canada. He is survived by his mother Wilma Miller, wife Julie K. Miller, step-children Matthew Kent Stevenson, Erin Brooke Steinman, and Christopher Grant Stevenson, as well as siblings Edward Blair Miller ’73-AD and Barbara Arlene Rebok. He also leaves behind many extended family members who were a big part of his life.

Dr. Miller graduated from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1975 and completed his residency in ophthalmology in 1979 at White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. He moved to Salem, Oregon and practiced ophthalmology from 1979-2015. In 1981 he opened Willamette Valley Eye Center. He enjoyed his many patients and his staff who were like family to him.

Dr. Miller’s greatest passion, vision, and impact was in providing eye care to those in need in developing countries. In 1985 he cofounded Montemorelos University Department of Ophthalmology in Montemorelos, Mexico. In 1991 he served as the founding officer and President of Adventist International Eye Services (AIES) whose mission is to provide eye care around the world, continuing the healing ministry of Christ. In 2004 he established the Vision Institute in Antananarivo, Madagascar. In 2007 the Madagascar Ministry of Health knighted him for his work in improving eye care in their country. As part of these efforts, Dr. Miller established eight self-sustaining clinics which have seen more than 1,000,000 patients since their opening. The residency programs he pioneered in Mexico and Madagascar have trained over 100 ophthalmologists who now practice in high-need areas around the world.

Living a Christ-led life permeated all facets of Dr. Miller’s work; regular attendance in church included the Sabbath School he taught for many years. Dr.Miller also considered civic activity an important duty, serving as the Marion County Republican Chairman in 1999 and drafting many state bills. Dr. Miller recently began working part-time for Pacific Eye Institute in Upland, California dividing his time between his farm, building his house, and loving his family. He was a dedicated, generous, responsible, and principled Christian man who is and will be truly missed.

(Source: Statesman Journal)