Michael Miller

Michael “Sonny” Miller was born in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 28, 1946. He passed peacefully in Fort Worth on June 17, 2026, at the age of 79, just one month before his 80th birthday.

Sonny was a lovable "teddy bear" with a signature smile that will be remembered by family, friends and fellow racers. Friends describe him as a role model, an honest, witty, likable man who never said a bad word about anyone. That spirit remained with him until the very end. During his final moments, he simply said, "I love everybody."

He was born to Neline Johnson Miller, and he was a true mama’s boy. Aside from a short stint in Houston, he spent nearly eight decades calling Fort Worth and Kennedale home.

He was so proud of the three children he raised: Kim – his pumpkin, Kayla – his sugar babe, and Kyle – his racer. He also had a profound fatherly impact on many friends, nieces, nephews and cousins.

A kid at heart, he loved being around children. His granddaughter, Maclaren Noelle Meesters, lit up his world. For 18 years, he loved watching her grow up, and he thought it was “cool beans” when she gave him the title of Aggie Grandpa. Later, Stryker Lane Jones and Kaizer Crew Lemons stole his heart. He loved those two little boys and was so excited to (hopefully) have more racers in the family. As we write this, we realize he had his own "Six Pack": Kim, Kayla, Kyle, Maclaren, Stryker and Kaizer. He would have made a fine Brewster Baker (Google it!).

None of the above would have been possible without his lifelong partner. Sonny & Loveta married on Valentine’s Day in 1974; they recently celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. Together, they were role models for many, and their selfless service to others was second to none. In his very last moments, he was checking to make sure she was OK.

His family extended to the tight-knit North Texas racing community. Sonny Miller was a dirt-track racing wizard and a force in Texas racing. He began racing in the1970s while working at Martin Sprocket & Gear. In 1980, he opened The Dirt Track Shop, building race cars and operating the local Hoosier tire and parts truck at Cowtown Speedway and Boyd Raceway. For a short time, he even ran the Texas Racers Auction & Tradeshow at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Over the years, he built countless winning cars and mentored generations of racers. Armed with little more than a jig, a pipe bender, a welder, a brilliant mind and a passion for the sport, he created championship-caliber race cars long before computers became part of the process. In 2000, he joined Smiley's Racing Products. For 25 years, he was a fixture at the front desk of the Kennedale location and a trusted friend to racers throughout the region.

Sonny was preceded in death by his parents, Neline and Jack Miller. His father passed away from complications related to a World War II wound when Sonny was just 8 years old. He was also preceded in death by his brother-in-law Danny Cummings and many dear friends from the racing community. As a believer in Christ, Sonny trusted in the promise of heaven. His family takes comfort in knowing he has already been reunited with his buddies, swapping stories and bench racing.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Loveta Whitworth Miller of Kennedale; daughter Kimberly and husband Scott Meesters of Mooresville, North Carolina; Kayla and husband Justin Lemons of Crowley, Texas; Kyle Jones and fiancée Kylea Simpson of Bonham, Texas; his little pumpkins Maclaren, Stryker and Kaizer; sister Susan “Yvonne” Cummings of Paradise, Texas; and numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and racing friends.

In lieu of flowers, his family has requested donations to a cause that is meaningful to you. Organizations close to the family's heart include any    faith-based ministries, Driven Neuro, Driven2SaveLives and Bundle of Joy Fund.

Visitation: 6–8 p.m., Thursday, June 25, Skyvue Funeral Home, 7220 Rendon Bloodworth Road, Mansfield, Texas.

Service: 11:30 a.m., Friday, June 26, Boulevard Baptist Church, 315 N. Burleson Blvd., Burleson, Texas 76028. 

Burial to immediately follow at Rose Hill Memorial Park, 7301 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth, Texas 76112.