John Grant Miller was not your typical lawyer.
ìWhile he was an exceptional lawyer for 37 years,î his son Steven Miller said, ìand he practised with an exceptional degree of competency, sometimes he didn't leave that at work. Once, he even found a way to use less than ordinary moments to teach us legal principles. My brother and I were fighting, and he interrupted us,î added Steven. ìHe told us that my brother's right to swing at me ended the moment before it hit my face.î
That ended the fight right there and then, said Steven, adding that it was moments like those that made his dad special.
Sadly for the family and countless Innisfailians, Miller, who practised law for 37 years with Miller, Lehane & Wild, passed away from cancer on Friday, Jan. 31 at the age of 66.
He leaves behind his wife Jacalyn, nine children and 15 grandchildren.
Grant was a community builder who devoted himself to his family, church, and service groups such as the Boy Scouts for over 20 years. He was also involved in the community at a grassroots level, helping with and advocating for community groups and facilities.
ìGrant was the consummate volunteer,î said former scout troop member Drew Ellis. ìThrough my time as a young scout, he gave so much time and energy to us (boys) that he demonstrated what true service was, not just talked about it.î
Ellis added Grant helped his troop achieve the highest scouting honour possible, the Queen's Venturer Award and the Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award, which requires at least 90 hours community service, fitness and skill achievements and the planning of an expedition.
ìThrough the volunteer hours, which Mr. Miller organized and supervised, and through the fitness activities and skill learning, he was there,î added Ellis. ìThe highlight of our journey was the expedition to Gargantua Cave System in Crowsnest Pass. Together, we explored the caves, hiked, camped and rappelled.î
The scout troop received their Duke of Edinburgh's Gold awards from Prince Philip himself in 1990.
ìMr. Miller took me and my friends through our teen years and helped me go from a boy to a man, teaching us many lessons and setting an impeccable example for us,î said Ellis.
Bishop Paul Mower, of Innisfail's Latter Day Saints (LDS) stake, said Miller's service to the local LDS chapel was exemplary.
ìGrant was humble, concerned, respectful, unpretentious, and trustworthy,î said Mower. ìHe was the most atypical lawyer I ever met. Personally, he was not concerned with material goods and for years he drove a 1970s Crown Victoria.î
Law partner Joe Lahane spoke highly of Miller and their strong mutual respect.
ìGrant always met our clients with a smile and was very personable with everyone,î said Lahane. ìI worked with him for 37 years and he always was a man of honesty and integrity. He took the time to learn about our clients' lives.î
Lahane added Miller developed a high level of trust with his clients, which made them feel welcome and able to ask as many questions as they wanted.
His son Steven remembers his father not only as an exemplary lawyer but a wonderful dad.
ìI felt blessed to be with him as much as I could this year. As a father he taught me that everyone was a child of God, and deserved to be treated with respect and listened to,î said Steven. ìI am in my last year of law in Saskatchewan and spent time with Dad in his office this last summer sitting in on his consultations.î
He noted that even during consultations, he made sure his clients understood what they were signing, a service that Miller always provided.
During his last five days, said Steven, the entire family gathered to say farewell to him. ìHe knew us all right to the end.î
