MILLER, Al – peacefully left this earthly world on Monday, June 2, 2025, surrounded by loved ones at his favorite cabin in Rapid City, MI. He was 82 years old. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11 AM Saturday, June 7, 2025, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 404 North Dayton Street, Davison, MI 48423; Rev. Fr. Andrew A. Czajkowski celebrant. Interment will take place in Pine River Cemetery, Standish, MI at 2:30 PM on Saturday, June 7, 2025. The family will receive visitors from 2 – 7 PM on Friday, June 6, 2025, at Allen Funeral Home, 9136 Davison Road, Davison, MI 48423 and one hour prior to Mass on Saturday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. A Rosary will be prayed 6 PM Friday at Allen Funeral Home.
Al was born in Omer, MI on February 10, 1943, son of the late Mynard Miller and Isabel (DeRosia-Miller) Andreck. On June 8, 1968, he married Connie Lee Conrad and she preceded him in death on July 3, 2008. Al was well-known in the Davison and Flint areas, where he sold Buicks for 40 years. And he sold a bunch of ‘em. Al was Buick’s top salesperson throughout the 1980’s, 1990’s, and 2000’s and finished his career with over 10,000 car sales. Prior to selling cars, Al held a variety of jobs. He started out sweeping the parking lot at Fletcher’s Texaco gas station in Standish for a nickel an hour at the ripe old age of 10. His responsibilities grew there, eventually joining the ranks as a full-service gas attendant. It was there that he and his colleague, Lorenzo Bermudez, coined the slogan “We fill your gas, clean your glass, and kiss your [taillights]!” After I-75 opened and the gas station business dried up, Al went to work in the factory at Buick in Flint. A guy who was energized by interacting with people and being outdoors, he hated it. In his words, it felt like “going to prison” and he quit after two long years. Al then sold motorcycles and snowmobiles for Jim Harrington in Lapeer. He worked there alongside its current owner, Ray Clemens, before going on to sell Buicks at Belford Motor Sales, MacGillivray Buick, and Jim Waldron. Al was often asked how he achieved so much success in sales. And he always provided a simple answer: “I treat people how I’d like to be treated.” He took pride in remembering thousands of names, stopping by a customer’s house to fix a headlight instead of getting a jump on holiday traffic, and helping others whenever he could. He made a point to visit customers in the hospital, at nursing homes, and at funeral homes to honor their loved ones. Al was a man of great integrity who strived to always do the right thing and owned his mistakes. He treated everyone equally, from the janitor to the CEO, and had a personal mission to get to know everyone around him. You weren’t a stranger for long in Al’s orbit. In short, he was an extraordinary man who will be profoundly missed by many.
Al is survived by his partner, Carol Dickinson of Davison, MI; three children, Al Miller II of Columbiaville, MI, Becky (Dan) Weeden of Albion, MI and Andy Miller of Lafayette, Colorado; two sisters, Pat (Bill) Denzer of Saginaw, MI and Carol (Dave) Sevener of Muskegon, MI; a number of caring grandchildren, including Payton Miller, Brandon Jones, Bryan (Cami) Jones, Cassy (Ross) Weston, Keegan Miller, Olivia Miller and Everett Miller; three great-grandchildren, Natalie, Axel and Bowie and he was thrilled to have another one on the way. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mynard Miller and Isabel (DeRosia-Miller) Andreck and his wife of 40 years, Connie Lee Miller.
In lieu of flowers, please consider doing something kind for a neighbor or sparking a conversation with a stranger.