Rev. Dana C. Miller

Rev. Dana C. Miller, 75, went home to be with his Lord on April 5, 2016 following a short illness. Dana was born December 2, 1940 in Easton, Maine, the son of Cecil R. and Phyllis E. (Doak) Miller. Dana served in the US Air Force, attended Bethany Bible College in Sussex, N.B. Canada and studied at the Univ. of Maine. Dana was an ordained minister of the American Baptist Churches USA, and during his 50 years of full time ministry served churches in Nova Scotia, Maine, New Hampshire and at the time of his death, he was the pastor of the Union UMC in Dadeville, AL. Dana was gifted with the compassion of a true pastor’s heart and the keynote of his lifelong ministry was to bring healing and reconciliation to both the churches he pastored as well as within the communities he served. His joy was in serving others whether it was snow plowing someone’s driveway or teaching the Word. For over 35 years, Dana had a part-time career in Law Enforcement as a Deputy Sheriff in Piscataquis County, Maine and as an Officer with the Milford, NH Police Dept. For many years he also served as Chaplain for the Milford Police Dept. and Emergency Services and as Chaplain for Fire Departments of Milford, Amherst and Wilton, NH. Dana attended the N.H. Police Academy and was a certified firearms instructor. Dana was predeceased by his parents and by a sister, M. Diane (Miller) Hetherington of Ottawa, Ontario. He is survived by his wife, Bettie K. (Stapleton) Miller of Prattville; a daughter, Alberta E. Miller of Pelham, NH; two grandsons, Matthew R. and Cody M. Bachelder of Manchester, NH; a sister, Erla-Lee (Robert) Duncan of Fort Fairfield, ME; three nephews, four nieces, ten great grand nephews and nieces and several cousins. A Memorial Service celebrating Dana’s life will be held Saturday April 16th at 2:00 PM at the Union UMC in Dadeville with Dr. Robbins Sims and Rev. Danny Rhodes officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Union UMC Youth Program. Visitation will be held at the church from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM Saturday April 16th. A Memorial Service in New Hampshire will be held on Saturday, May 7th at 11:00 a.m. in the Milford United Methodist Church, 327 North River Road, Milford, NH. Local arrangements are in the care of Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH.