Gary Robert Millin

GARY ROBERT MILLIN

Gary Robert Millin was born on September 26,1949, in Sandpoint, Idaho to Ray and Louise (Tillotson) Millin, the second of four children, and passed into the arms of Jesus on September 23, 2022, at his home, after a brief illness.

His dad worked as a lineman and moved around the northwest, until settling permanently in Prosser, Washington, when Gary was a third grader. He grew up on 15 acres and from a young age, Gary wanted to be a cowboy. His neighbor, Tex Mulkey, soon engaged l0 year old Gary in riding colts and roping calves. He soon made enough money to buy his first horse, a little buckskin mare that he soon made into a calf roping horse. His cowboy dream evolved as Ray and Gary built a calf roping arena and he went to junior rodeos. Before long, they split the arena in half, and Allen Knox, Jim Proctor, and Jim and Jay Sizemore showed up to ride bucking horses. The boys pooled their money to give to neighbor Merlin Brown to buy a steady stream of practice horses.

He began riding bareback horses and went on to his favorite event, riding broncs. He went to amateur rodeos for a year, winning the NRA Rookie Saddle Bronc championship in 1968. Gary exercised race horses for JB McMeans, as well, as working for Johnny VanBelle. Gary worked for Henry Christensen of CB Rodeo Company of Roseburg, Oregon, and filled out rodeo performances in the bareback riding and bronc riding from time to time, as well, as furthering his riding expertise and earning enough cash to get him further down the road. He met Bonnie Maras, Miss NRA and wed in 1971. They had a son, Chad, in June of l973. His passion to ride broncs carried him to an invitational bronc riding in Malta, Montana, in June of l974. Good friends, Allen and Judy Knox were on the trip with them, when coming back home, a tragic automobile accident took Bonnie and Chad’s lives. Devastated, Gary continued to rodeo, stay with friends, and went south to the winter rodeos, selling Larry Mahan clothing, and working other jobs. He soon was recruited to the Blue Mt. Community College rodeo team to ride broncs. He won the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Championship for the Northwest Region in l976 and l977 and competed at the Bozeman, Montana, National College Rodeo Finals. He graduated from BMCC in 1977 with an Associate of Science Degree. While there, he met fellow rodeo team mate, Dana Miller. They wed in Prosser, Washington in 1978, where they lived for two years, until moving back to Powell Butte, Oregon, Dana’s home community. Gary worked for the Pat Miller Ranch, and Dana taught school. He was on the Northwest Volcanos Rodeo team for Calgary in l980 with the team winning the title. Gary went back to amateur rodeo in l979, and enjoyed riding the many good broncs of Mert Hunking, of the Sombrero Rodeo Company. Gary won the Oregon Rodeo association title, as well, as the Idaho Cowboys Association title several times in the bronc riding. He retired from bronc riding in l987. In 2019, Gary flew to the NFR Bronc Riding convention in Las Vegas with his old friends, Allen Knox and Dick Otley, and had a memorable time with life-long rodeo friends.

Chance Conlin Millin was born in May, l983, and Presley Denise Millin was born in November, l992. Gary was a devoted father and greatly enjoyed his children, family and friends. Gary, along with his ranch job, started colts for other people, and he and Dana began to build a small cow herd. He worked for ODOT and the City of Redmond for twelve years, before retiring in 2014. Gary continued to team rope, and they enjoyed riding horses together and going to brandings. The couple spent short, fun times in Arizona a few winters, as well. In 2005, they purchased part of his father-in-law’s place, and he enjoyed irrigating, haying, and running cattle. Gary contracted macular degeneration in 2017, and he sold his cattle to Chance and Nikki.

Gary greatly enjoyed assisting in the rough stock instruction at the Tygh Valley Rodeo Bible Camp each June, and valued his time with the young up and coming riders. He loved cowboying for Rod Hershey, especially at Salt Creek, and working with the crew. Gary and Dana had many adventures with their children and grandchildren celebrating 44 years of marriage on August 1, 2022. Gary was a great friend to all and grew closer to God as he aged and went through life’s struggles. He had a special heart for children and spent time at school board meetings advocating for their safety and for excellence in the learning environment. Most Wednesday mornings at 7:15 a.m. would find him in front of the Powell Butte School praying for the children all of last school year.

Gary was a fighter to the end. The day before he passed, he told Pastor Jerry Roberts, “I finally found someone I can whip------the enemy!

Gary is survived by wife, Dana, and daughter Presley Smith (Steve), daughter-in-law, Nikki Millin, and grandchildren, Crae and Cy Millin and Callan and Stone Smith, brother David Millin (Carla) of Yakima, Washington, and Patsy Millin of Spokane, Washington, and numerous relatives, including his blood brothers. Family members preceding him in death were sons Chance Millin and Chad Millin, wife Bonnie Maras Millin, parents Ray and Louise Millin, sister Nancy Orndorff, and father and mother-in-law, Pat and Naida Miller. Prineville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. services will be held Friday, September 30, 2022 at l:00 p.m. at Tom’s Pond, 3694 SW Williams Road, Powell Butte, Oregon, followed by private interment at the Powell Butte Cemetery.

Charitable contributions may be made to Rodeo Bible Camp of Oregon,
P.O. Box 81, Powell Butte, OR 97753, if desired.

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