Nevada soldier mourned

MINDEN -- More than 500 mourners paid tribute to a Nevada soldier during a funeral service Sunday at the high school where he graduated a decade ago.

Staff Sgt. Timothy Miller, 27, originally of Gardnerville, and his wife, Sgt. Randi Jean Miller, 25, originally of Lowell, Mass., were shot to death in their Tacoma, Wash., home on March 2.

Spc. Ivette Gonzalez Davila, a chemical operations specialist, has been arrested and charged in the slayings. She also is accused of kidnapping the couple's 6-month-old daughter. The baby was not injured and remains in Nevada with relatives.

"This is the hardest thing anyone will ever face," said Pastor Rich Lammay of High Sierra Fellowship church. "Although evil touches the most righteous people, remember that God is still good."

U.S. flags of all sizes flew outside Douglas High School in Minden as friends and family gathered to remember Miller.

"I'm going to remember the good times," said Miller's uncle, Mike Taflinger. "I'm not going to focus on the way he died, but on the way he lived."

Bagpipes wailed as six soldiers carried Miller's casket into the gymnasium. He was buried at Eastside Memorial Park.

"The nation owes a debt of gratitude to these two young soldiers who were greatly loved and will be greatly missed," said Lammay, who officiated the military service.

Miller grew up in Gardnerville with his mother, Tami Gray, and stepfather, Randy Gray, a volunteer firefighter.

He went straight into the military after graduating from Douglas High in 1998. During his career as an Army medic, he earned medals and awards for service in Iraq, South Korea, Colombia and Honduras.

"It was never about him; it was about helping other people," family friend Gary Powers told Gardnerville's Record-Courier.

The Millers were stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash. They were married for five years.

"I encourage everyone here today to bless this family by reaching out and helping to raise Kassidy," Lammay said.

The motive for the shootings has not yet been determined. Davila will be tried in a military court.