Willis Daniel Morgan Miller White Bear was my Great grandfather. He was such an intensely accomplished man who was determined his whole life to improve himself everyday. He was almost entirely self educated.

He was a highly devoted husband to my great grandmother Myrtle. He was the father of 5 children, with whom he kept life long loving relationships. He had a lot more grandchildren and countless great grandchildren whom he opened his heart and life to every day.

Nothing was more important to Daniel Morgan Miller than family and community. He would often volunteer at the Mission in Roseburg. He would guide people spiritually with music and fellowship in such a way that every single person in the room was drawn in and uplifted. Even if they were determined to keep themselves at a distance.

Every time I visited the mission I was met with stories about my grandfather of praise and salvation. He had a special way of building people up when they were in misery that was so easy and plain. He would sit and talk, listening without judgment and share stories from his own life. When he was met with situations where his own life had no reflection he would draw upon stories in the bible.

I believe he simply reminded everyone that this human story is an old story, that all things have been done and all the answers you need have already been found. Dealing with life was the easy part, finding the verse in the Bible that showed you how was harder. 

He was a natural musician and could tune about any instrument by ear. He had the rare gift of perfect pitch. He knew how to play the Guitar, the five and 6 string Banjo, Harmonica and Piano. He was also an accomplished artist and painter. Anyone who has pictures or prints of grandpas work should email them to me.

He grew up on the Cherokee reservation in Oklahoma and made his was north later in life until he landed in Roseburg Oregon, where he stayed until his twilight years, after Myrtle died. He then went to live with his son Daniel and his wife Terry in Medford.

He then met a woman and married again after 54 years of being married to Myrtle. Some of us were surprised but none of us were really shocked. He loved companionship and he was happy being married and having a family. Finding someone very special to love and care for was probably inevitable. You can not put a stop of a heart overflowing with love. 

-Karina Dale Cottrell 1/3/10