Shawn David Miller December 30, 1974 - October 29, 2009 Shawn David Miller passed away unexpectedly on October 29, 2009. He was 34 years old. He was born to parents, Jim and Sarah Miller, in Grand Junction, CO, on December 30, 1974. Shawn grew up in the Palisade area and attended Taylor Elementary and Mount Garfield Middle Schools. He attended Palisade High School where he lettered in soccer, basketball, and baseball and graduated in 1993 as one of three Valedictorians. While attending high school, he also achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in 1991. Shawn attended Mesa State College and started his future career there as a student athletic trainer. He later graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Performance and Wellness in 1998. He was a four-year letterman at Mesa State and had the highest GPA in Athletic Training in 1998. He worked in the Grand Junction area for several years after graduation. He later passed NATA certification requirements to become an athletic trainer in 2001 and was hired by Saint Mary's Hospital in July of 2001. Shawn assisted patients with their physical therapy at the Life Center and worked as the athletic trainer for Grand Junction Central and Palisade High Schools. He also worked many of the Mesa State College athletic events, the JUCO World Series and assisted with other athletic events such as the Special Olympics. Shawn loved to play recreational coed softball and men's league soccer as well as bowling, golfing, and fly-fishing with his friends. He enjoyed helping with the family orchard on the Redlands and was an excellent pruner and fruit picker. He especially liked to see the orchard after it was worked up in the spring. Shawn also enjoyed visiting the family relatives in Nebraska. He was an avid fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers and especially liked attending the annual college football game between the Cornhuskers and Colorado Buffalos. Shawn's true passion was taking care of the athletes placed in his care and even made himself available during his days off to help anyone in need of medical assistance. He was very generous and would often buy equipment with money out of his own pocket for athletes that could not afford it on their own. If you were out with Shawn, people would greet and talk to him no matter where you were. He was always striving to become a better athletic trainer and spoke highly of his fellow workers at the Life Center. Shawn was a caring family man and thought the world of his nieces and nephew. He enjoyed getting together with his family, whether it be for a picnic, supper or breakfast. He knew how to make a "mean yet fluffy" Belgian waffle. Shawn touched the lives of a great multitude of people and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Shawn is survived by his parents, Jim and Sarah Miller of Palisade, CO; his sister, Melody Miller of Montrose, CO, and his brother, Frederick (Kim) Miller; two nieces, Kiawa Miller and Sierra McQuiston, and nephew, Dymilo Miller of Grand Junction, CO. Shawn is also survived by a large number of aunts, uncles and cousins throughout Colorado and Nebraska. Memorial services will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. in the Palisade High School Auditorium. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Mary's Foundation - Athletic Training Program - Shawn Miller Fund, P. O. Box 1628, Grand Junction, CO, 81502. Arrangements entrusted to Snell-McLean Funeral Home.
