Larry Miller

MILLER, LARRY D. -- A memorial service for Larry D. Miller, who lost a brief struggle with cancer on August 17, 2009, is scheduled at El Rancho de Las Golondrinas at La Cienega, South of Santa Fe, at 3 p.m., October 11, 2009.

Larry was born February 13, 1950, in Littlefield, Texas, to Thomas H. and Maxine Miller. The family lived in Texas, South Dakota, and New Mexico, during Larrys childhood. He attended first grade in Vernon, Texas, second through fifth grades in Whiteface, Texas, and continued his education through high school in Roswell, New Mexico, graduating in 1968.

He then attended classes at Eastern New Mexico Universitys Roswell campus, before transferring to the University of New Mexico, where he earned bachelors and masters degrees in Spanish. Larry was fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and won several scholarships during his college years, including a Fulbright-Hays Fellowship for dissertation research in Brazil in 1980.

While in Brazil, he taught English as a second language. Upon his return to the states, he was a welfare caseworker for the New Mexico Department of Health and Social Services. During his 17year service to The Vargas Project at UNM, he acted as a research assistant, assistant editor, and finally, as an editor in the translation and publication of the documents of Don Diego De Vargas.

Larry was a contract paleographer for the National Park Service prior to taking employment with the Park Services Spanish Colonial Research Center at UNM as a research historian, a position he held for six years. He was also an editorial staff member for the Colonial Latin American Historical Review CLAHR.

In addition to his work translating 17th century and other Spanish colonial documents, Larry was a blacksmith. He demonstrated the craft at the New Mexico State Fair, and at El Rancho de Las Golondrinas for several years, as well as at special events at Bents Old Fort in Colorado, and elsewhere. Larry also earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Larry is survived by his partner, Laurel A. Lolly Martin of Santa Fe; his mother, Maxine Miller of Roswell; his sister Beth Morgan and brother-in-law Mark Sechrist of Vado; an aunt and uncle, Mary and Garnell Baker of Cleburne, Texas; and several cousins.

The family has suggested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to El Rancho de Las Golondrinas or to the American Cancer Society.BRBRFriends may pay respects online at lagronefuneralchapels.comBRBRArrangements are under the direction of LaGrone Funeral Chapel. BRBR
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