Deborah Ann Miller

DEBORAH ANN MILLER, age 67, of Grand Rapids, passed away at Select Specialty Hospital in Spectrum Health, Blodgett Campus, after battling a long illness on January 29, 2021. She was brought into this world on June 25, 1953, in Lansing, Michigan to Everett and Dorothy (Glass) Miller. She graduated from Grand Rapids Public High School and worked for the “phone company” for an astonishing 27 years. Deb started with Michigan Bell, which became Ameritech and eventually joined with AT&T. She survived and thrived through the several mergers promoting from Phone Operator to eventually retiring as a Design Specialist. As if not busy enough with the rest of her responsibilities, and raising 3 children, her most ambitious accomplishment in life was designing and building a new home while living in Grand Rapids, MI.

Deb had a feisty, adventuresome and caring personality. She was a great person to share your troubles and worries with and would go to bat to defend family and friends, or even herself for that matter, acquiring the nick name “Honey Badger.” She loved to travel to many special destinations including Maui, Hawaii, The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island and the country of Thailand, spending several years there where she had the privilege of teaching English to students.

She loved food, she was a foodie, both cooking at home and eating out at her favorite restaurants, including Monsoon Siam in Madison, Wisconsin and any Cheesecake Factory location. She was known for being the world’s slowest eater, and the world’s pickiest eater at that. She enjoyed pampering and fun as well evidenced by her trips to the salon for manicures and pedicures and her outings to the casino, this is where her energy level would spike, as we often called her the “Casino Ninja.” Never to be found once entering. She additionally was known for all her beautiful jewelry, nothing was too big, too sparkly or too Boujee for her.

Deb had many passions including the care of animals, committing many volunteer hours to an organization called Brown Paws Rescue, even being honored by one of the rescue animals being named after her. She was a devoted mother and grandmother and was very proud of them and their life accomplishments. Deb was the centerpiece to any family event, we never said that she showed up on time to family events, but she was definitely the centerpiece.

Deb will be remembered by her children, Chris (Tania) Pranomvanavech, Leigh (John) Walker, Jade (John) Hughes, and; grandchildren Isaac Deleon, Alex Deleon, Nathan Deleon, Tristan Pranomvanavech, Courtney Pranomvanavech, her former husband of 40 years Joe Pranomvanavech; Tamara Weatherford (sister), Michael Root (brother), Mary Root (sister-in-law/best friend) and #1 Son-of-A-Bitch in Ohio. We can’t leave out her fur babies, Rumor (dog), Buddy (cat) Nay Nay (cat) and many other family and dear friends.

A Life Celebration event honoring Deb’s life is being planned for a future date, pending COVID 19 guidelines. Please stay in touch with a member of the family or check back with the funeral home to learn the date and time of the service once it is established. In lieu of flowers the family recommends a memorial donation in Deb’s name to the animal shelter or rescue organization of the donor’s choice. For additional information, or to request a memorial envelope, please contact Verdun Family Funeral Home in Belding at (616) 794-1300 or at www.verdunfh.com, who is caring for the arrangements.