Rhett Damon Miller

Rhett Damon Miller

Goofy, big-hearted, sensitive, poetic, true friend

Rhett was a goofball, with a bright smile and an infectious laugh. He especially loved to tease his older sister, Amanda, and younger sister, Jaleigh. He got a kick out of riling them up, only to break character with a grin, chuckle, and embrace, reassuring them it was all a joke.

His fun-loving personality and knack for getting anyone laughing meant making new friends was second nature. Rhett made them so easy that befriending someone new during their family vacations was inevitable. One such instance even took him on a deep-sea fishing adventure in Jamaica with his new pal and their family. Rhett deeply valued his friendships. The bonds he made felt familial, and his love for his family was immense.

Rhett cherished time with his family, and most of their traditions revolved around Sundays at Oklahoma’s automobile racetracks. His mother, Shelli, took his two sisters, and youngest brother, Ryker, to the tracks so frequently that they practically grew up there. To no one’s surprise, racing became Rhett’s biggest passion. He learned to be a skilled driver and dreamed of having a family of his own one day and continuing racing. Had his circumstances been different, Rhett might have become a professional driver, happily living a simple life.

When he was young, Rhett enjoyed playing with his siblings outside, watching movies, and listening to music. He had a special connection to music and often made up his own lyrics, which were sometimes part of the tricks he played on his sisters. He would follow them around the house, rapping at them just to push their buttons. Rhett’s affinity for lyrics transformed from a means to tease his siblings into a form of artistic self-expression. He became a prolific writer and could always be found scribbling away in his notebook, creating poetry or verses for rap songs.

After he passed, Rhett’s family found his journals filled with poetry and lyrics, along with letters to his loved ones. His letters contained apologies for the things he did during active addiction.

Rhett had a lasting influence on his family, both during his life and after his passing. He distanced himself because he did not want them to see the effects of his active addiction. Although his separating himself made it difficult for them to understand his situation, his family did their best to support him. Their experiences with Rhett allowed them to see people suffering with substance use disorder with kinder eyes than ever.

Today, Shelli, Ryker, and Amanda honor Rhett by volunteering at the shelter where he received aid, and he continues influencing his family in ways they are still discovering.

Rhett’s sister, Amanda Miller, provided the information for this narrative.
April 16,1991–June 24, 2017-Age 26
Portrait Artist: Shawn Faust
Narrative Writer: Willow Kline

Share this story from The INTO LIGHT Project

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

More Into Light Stories

Read more biographies from this exhibit.
Devin Hart Bearden

Devin Hart Bearden

Caring, athletic, bright, witty, attractive At 6’2”, Devin was lanky, handsome, and a natural athlete. Equally at home on a skateboard, snowboard, or when surfing, he was a pleasure to watch; so fluid and graceful. He was a good soccer and baseball player and loved hiking in nature or being at the beach, especially on the annual family beach trips to Hatteras in North Carolina. [...]
Read More »
Andrew Ackerman

Andrew S. Akerman

Loving, adventurous, creative, loved nature Andrew was a smart, outgoing, talented young man who enjoyed playing video games with his friends and spending time with his family. At first glance, he seems to fit the description of many boys his age. However, getting to know Andrew’s story, hearing of his kindness and creativity, and allowing his humanness and giving spirit to flow over us, we realize what made him special. We also see how this young man’s potential only began to blossom when his life was tragically cut short.[...]
Read More »
William Seth Arpan II

William Seth Arpan II

Protective, loyal, adventurous, reliable, hilarious Will is a twin. He was born 30 seconds before his sister, Thea, as he would often remind everyone. He comes from a family of six siblings, but specially adored his baby brother, Max, who was only 13 when Will passed away. Max has ADHD and Will was very patient and protective of him. He would talk to Max about school and listen to him when he was having off days. Will also had nieces and nephews who he absolutely adored. He was never too old to be found alongside the kids at Chuckie Cheese, or sitting at the kids table at get-togethers. More than anything, he never missed an opportunity to tell each of them how much he loved them.[...]
Read More »
Michael G. Arra

Michael G. Arra

Loving, generous, loud, engaging, doer Michael was personable, energetic, loud, and engaging with the heart of a servant. He loved the outdoors, animals and was passionate about his dog, Mollie. He loved spending time with family and played various sports. Michael especially liked competing with his older brothers, Thomas, and Stephen, at tennis and golf. Michael was born in Quito, Ecuador because his father worked for an energy company there. This gave him dual citizenship and a strong tie to Ecuador. In 2010, Michael visited his birthplace, spending time with his godparents and their families. [...]
Read More »

Bring an Exhibit to Your State