In Loving Memory of Ashley Miller

In Loving Memory of Ashley Miller

On January 4th our beloved sister, Ashley, passed away at the age of 28 after a courageous and painful battle with alcoholism. She was a beautiful soul who found peace in nature, with a deep love for the outdoors. One of her proudest accomplishments was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail with her best friend, Gabie—an achievement that I admire so much. To have the strength and determination to even attempt such a grueling journey speaks to her resilience and adventurous spirit.

In many ways, we were complete opposites. Ash was always excelling in school, a natural scholar, and I couldn’t help but admire how bright and dedicated she was—qualities I struggled with after I dropped out of school. She always had a way of lighting up a room with her energy and focus, while I, on the other hand, felt lost at times. In the recent years we fought a lot but despite our differences, we always had each other’s backs at the end of the day, and I’m so grateful for the bond we shared before this disease took over my sister.

When she first moved to Humboldt, California, for university, we thought she was thriving. We didn’t see her much during those years, and we assumed she was living her dream as a little “mountain woman” up there, enjoying the quiet and beauty of the northern coast. But everything changed when we got a call from her roommate saying that Ash was yellow. At first, we didn’t know what to think. It was such a shock. We drove up to get her, not sure of what we’d find.

When we arrived, it was overwhelming. She didn’t want to come home, and it broke our hearts to see how much she was struggling. From that point forward, her health began to decline rapidly. She would be hospitalized and treated with medicine that made her feel better for a while, and there were even moments when her liver began to regenerate. We held onto hope, but each time, she would fall back into the grips of alcoholism. It was the disease that took over her mind and body, no matter how hard she tried to fight it.

Our mom, Jill, raised all 3 of us on her own, showing us the true meaning of strength and sacrifice. Her unwavering love and determination shaped us all into who we are today, and it’s in moments like these that we feel the weight of that love. The funds raised will go directly to our mom, to help with funeral costs and any remaining expenses, as she’s been shouldering so much on her own.

If you knew Ash, you knew she was sarcastic and bratty sometimes but her heart was huge—always caring for others, even when she struggled to care for herself. We hope to honor her memory and the legacy she leaves behind, not only as a daughter, sister, cat mom, and friend but also as a fighter who was doing her best to overcome the challenges life threw her way. Any donation, no matter how small, will be deeply appreciated. Please help us celebrate her life and keep her spirit alive.

Love you sis, I'll always be your protector. - Love Andrew