Franklin Reid Miller

Franklin Reid Miller, 71, died Thursday, January 12, 2017, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was born August 18, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, the son of the late Franklin Ramsey Miller and the late Nona Jewell Phillips Miller. His family moved to Memphis, Tennessee, when he was 6 years of age and he started school there. As a teenager, Franklin threw a paper route and worked as a cashier at Kroger's. He was active in scouting and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. In 1963, he graduated from Treadwell High School in Memphis, where he excelled in math. Franklin graduated from Memphis State University in 1967 with a B.A. in Mathematics. After earning his undergraduate degree, Franklin won a full scholarship to Texas A&M University, where he completed one of the earliest Master's Degrees in Computer Science offered in the United States. During his studies, he gained hands on experience by working part time in the A&M computer lab. Completing graduate school in January of 1969, he accepted a job in Tulsa at what was then called Pan American Petroleum. Shortly thereafter, Pan American became Amoco, which later merged with BP. When he became a manager, Franklin generously mentored and advanced the careers of many who worked under him. He officially retired as BP Data Center Manager in 2003, but he continued to work as a consultant for several years. During the Amoco years, Franklin was an avid runner and completed the Tulsa Run many times. A testament to his discipline was the fact that he set his alarm very early on weekday mornings to run with a group along the River Parks Trail before heading to work. After retirement, he worked out regularly at Fitness Together, where he was known as "Frank the Tank." His friends and family members admired not only his outstanding physical discipline, but also his neatness and orderliness in all activities from hanging his clothes to keeping financial records. Franklin was a very devoted member St. John's Episcopal Church, where he sang in the choir, played the hand bells, and was the treasurer of the Brotherhood of St. Andrews. Always a music lover, Franklin learned to enjoy opera in adulthood and was serving his ninth year on Board of Tulsa Opera, Inc. He was a member of President's Council and was on the Finance Committee. Also a member of The Guild of Tulsa Opera. he served as treasurer from 2008-2010. A member of the English Speaking Union, he was a past president of the Tulsa Branch. For the last several years, Franklin sat on the Board of Hospice of Green Country. In recent years, he was an active member of The Tulsa Men's Club and was the current president of the organization. An enthusiastic golfer, Franklin played frequently with members of the Tulsa Men's Club and the LaFortune Senior League. He also enjoyed games and annual golf trips with Amoco friends. His proudest golfing moment was when he shot a hole in one at LaFortune on July 11, 2014. While at Memphis State, Franklin met his wife, Kay, on a blind date to a Homecoming Game. They married in 1969. During the 47 years of their marriage, they enjoyed many blessings, but the greatest was the birth of their daughter, Katie Elizabeth. After retirement, Franklin and Kay traveled frequently, visiting many European countries, Australia, New Zealand, China, South Africa, Peru, and Iceland, as well as many places in the United States. He liked to read, watch TV, listen to Talk Radio, and study Kim Komando's e-mail updates about current technology, and loved spending time with his grandchildren. He absolutely hated yard work. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Katie Miller Peoples and her husband, Vincent Peoples, of Tulsa; two granddaughters, Victoria Katherine Peoples and Lauren Miller Peoples; a sister, Mary Miller Bowen of Memphis, Tennessee; and other relatives in California and Tennessee, along with many, many loving friends. Franklin's family would especially like to thank the men of the Tulsa Men's Club for the many hours they spent with him while he was in St. Francis Hospital. A Celebration of Franklin's Life will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church in Tulsa at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 19th. Instead of flowers, donations may be made to Tulsa Opera, Inc., The Guild of Tulsa Opera, the Brotherhood of St. Andrews at St. John's, the Michael Bedford Music Fund at St. John's, the Tulsa Branch of the English Speaking Union, or Hospice of Green County. Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233 share memories at www.moorefuneral.com

Franklin Reid Miller

August 18, 1945 - January 12, 2017