Vernon R. Miller

Vernon Ralph Miller, 73, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 13, 2023, at his home in Strasburg, Colorado.

Vern was born on March 12, 1950, in Denver, Colorado.  He grew up on E Evans and S Quebec St. and lived with his family where they milked cows, tended to their farm, and ran a gas/car wash station.  He attended Cherry Creek High School and graduated in 1968.  He then met the love of his life, Sandra J. Johnson, at the car wash and was married on June 21, 1974.  Vern and Sandy moved out east to Strasburg, Colorado in 1977 where they started a family and had twin daughters, Stephanie and Stacy, in 1979.  He spent many years farming wheat and running his cattle ranch in Elizabeth, Colorado.  In his younger years he entered wild horse races in places like Cheyenne Frontier Days and Miles City and told many stories of those days.  Vern served on the Strasburg School Board for approximately 10 years as well as the East Arapahoe Soil Conservation District.  In 1991, Vern bought a horse ranch in Hereford, Texas, and started in the Thoroughbred Racing business where he then received his trainer license in 1994.  Between him and his wife, they continued training their horses until 2020.  During that time, Vern also purchased the Floyd Mock Ranch in Limon, Colorado, in August 1998 where he ran yearlings. The ranch is now a cow/calf operation.  Vern loved his bulldogs, had a dry sense of humor, his word was his bond, and every deal that he made ended in a handshake. He was a true cowboy!

            He is preceded in death by his father, Ralph Earl Miller (Tuffy), mother, Alma Geraldine Dick and brother, Ernie Miller.  He is survived by his wife, Sandy Miller, his twin daughters, Stephanie (Travis) Denne, and Stacy (Jason) Babi, and his four grandchildren, Sydney and Peyton Babi, and Paige and Wesley Denne.