Terri Savage - Miller

Terri Savage-Miller passed away July 24, 2024. While she passed in St. Petersburg, she lived in Sunset Beach for the most recent 27 years and in the Bay area for nearly 40 years. Born on the south side of Indianapolis on April 4, 1955, she played many roles in our lives: wife, mother, friend, sister, sister-in-law and cool aunt were a few that were so meaningful to her.

Terri’s passions centered around family life. Travelling with her boys, Max and Stephen, brought her throughout North America to a wide variety of national and state parks, where so many of the memories included the beauty of surrounding nature as well as unexpected encounters: detours for countless waterfalls and run-in’s with a wide range of wildlife. Involving herself with Max’s education, sports and water-based activities, as well as Stephen’s business and musical endeavors were often her primary focus of a given day. These experiences with her boys were what she cherished most.

 She possessed a keen eye for beauty. Early in her career she excelled in the world of commercial interior design, selling and laying out office space for businesses ranging from banks, data operations centers to law firms. This talent was applied to her home renovation, a project of which she was supremely proud. The end product of this lengthy effort was the transformation of an unexceptional beach home to her family’s refuge. Her home not only provided comfort and was designed for her family’s lifestyle, but it conveys her exceptional vision and taste. 

 Later in life, aphasia robbed Terri of much of her ability to communicate. Despite this enormous challenge, Terri continued to participate with friends and family. Her ability to convey her satisfaction and happiness with a sincere, bright smile, touched all around her.

 So little of life is pre-determined, much of it is dependent upon our choices and often how we react to unexpected opportunities or challenges. Terri’s life path may not have been predicted by those who knew her as a child but every direction she took was based on her core value of commitment to the happiness and growth of her family and friends, as well as the beauty of her surrounding world. In remembrance of Terri on an ongoing basis, please carry those values. 

 Terri is survived by her husband Stephen, whose life has been forever enriched by her love, support, perspective and partnership. While Max may have predeceased Terri, his memory lives on in the hearts of those who knew her.

Funeral services will be at 12 noon on Thursday, August 1, 2024 at Temple Beth-El, 400 Pasadena Avenue South, St. Petersburg with Rabbi Michael Torop, officiating. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park, 12905 Wild Acres Road in Largo.

Donations in Terri’s honor can be made to https://vohaphasia.app.neoncrm.com/forms/terrimiller

Heritage Funeral Care, Steven Gross Director, is serving the family.