Orlando Miller Jr., 84, of San Saba

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Orlando Miller Jr., 84 years old, March 25, 1939 – February 10, 2024. 

Services will be held on February 16, 2024, at the Blaylock Funeral Home in San Saba, Texas at 2:00 p.m., with visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m.   

Orlando Miller, Jr., was born and resided in San Saba, Texas.  By faith, he received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior (April 17, 1955) and attended the International Bible College in San Antonio, Texas, served a stint in the United States Navy, then became an evangelist, traveling in the United States preaching, singing and playing his guitar wherever he went. 

He became a pastor at Faith Chapel in Severn, Maryland, in 1968 until he felt the calling of Lord to become a missionary in Central America in 1972.  He and his young family left the comforts of the U.S. in their travel trailer and moved to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Belize, going into the jungles and villages to get the message to them.  His first church plant was in the village of Roaring Creek, Belize. 

After a terrible earthquake in the adjacent country of Guatemala on Feb. 4, 1976, the call was clear to then move to Guatemala to rebuild churches and help communities.  He and his family settled in the small village of Santa Lucia, Milpas Altas, parking the travel trailer in between two cabbage patches.  It is there that his third child, Deborah, was born and became known as the “Original Cabbage Patch Doll,” according to Orlando.  Due to the dangers of the time, the family returned to the United States, but Orlando continued the call on his life and returned to Central America. 

Orlando eventually remarried his beloved wife Mayra Dominguez Miller, and for the past 38 years have devoted their lives to the people of Honduras and Nicaragua, building seven churches and started a children’s ministry which has grown exponentially over the years. 

Orlando loved the Lord and loved people. He never wavered in his calling or dedication to bringing the Gospel to all humanity and winning souls to Jesus Christ. 

Orlando was preceded in death by his father, Orlando Miller, Sr.; his stepfather, Gomez Moreno; his mother, Doris Estes Moreno; his sister, Adeline Ratliff. 

Orlando is survived by his wife, Mayra Dominguez Miller;  his children, Angela Miller Chambers and husband, Kirk Chambers; Jonathan Miller and wife, Feyona Garbutt Miller; Deborah Miller Smuts and husband, Jason Smuts; Roberto Dominguez; his siblings Fritzy Dean, Susie Parisher, Linda Zamudio, Junior Moreno, John Moreno, Raymond Moreno, and  Betty Joy Beddow; his grandchildren, Meagan Pulatie Smith and spouse, Shiloh Smith; Hunter Pulatie and spouse, Megan McCoy Pulatie; Julian Caracheo and fiancé, Alyssa Tamaseu; Jake Chambers, Magdalena Caracheo, Hilarie Smuts, Jake Smuts; his great-grandchildren, Nyla Garbutt, Paisley Smith, Tinsley Smith, Everley Smith, Paislee Caracheo, Rhodes Pulatie, and Aralyn Salazar. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Faith Missionary Outreach/Mayra Miller, P. O. Box 538, San Saba, Texas 76877