Shayne Lee Miller passed away on Sunday, August 9, 2026. He was born on October 22, 1964, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to David and Tracey Miller. In 1970, he moved to Chandler, Arizona, where he spent most of his childhood and early adulthood. Shayne was the oldest of seven children and spent many hours helping his dad with Arabian horse shows and building their family home. He loved riding his bicycle and three-wheelers, as well as playing sports. Shayne was also a gifted artist who submitted his artwork in school competitions and earned numerous awards. He also had a gift for giving nicknames, many of which have stayed with his family for years.
Shayne graduated from Mesa High School in 1982. The following year, he left to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Stockholm, Sweden, where he formed many lifelong connections.
After returning home from Sweden, Shayne moved back to the Salt Lake City area, which remained his home for the rest of his life.
In his early twenties, Shayne spent much of his time with his cousins waterskiing, snow skiing, and working in the family business. Through a persistent and carefully arranged meetup, those same cousins eventually introduced him to the love of his life, Nyla Medill. They fell in love and were later married in the Jordan River Temple on September 10, 1988.
Together, Shayne and Nyla raised three children: Brayden Adam, Kaitlyn Lee, and Alexia Brynn. Shayne was a remarkable father who set an incredible example for his children through his wisdom, resilience, and integrity. Throughout the years, he shared many of his interests with them, including fly-tying, insects, fossils, geology, history (particularly the American West), foods from different cultures, hunting, and fishing. He took great joy in connecting with his children through these interests and always encouraged them to embrace what they loved.
Of all Shayne’s interests, fly-tying held a special place in his heart. He loved studying rivers and their ecosystems, from the insects fish feed on throughout the seasons, to the way colors appear in the water. He would collect insects directly from the river and carefully recreate them using thread, feathers, and other materials. Over the years, Shayne hand-tied hundreds, if not thousands, of flies, and was consistently complimented on his abilities by fishing guides and gifted anglers. Although he loved fishing many of the West’s rivers, the northern section of the Green River was especially dear to him.
Shayne was a lifelong learner who attended both the University of Utah and Westminster College, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics, an MBA, and a master’s degree in accounting. Throughout his career, he held a variety of roles before becoming the chief financial officer Youth Health Associates (YHA). He genuinely loved his work and the people he worked with, many of whom knew him as a patient leader and trusted counselor.
Beyond his professional career, Shayne generously shared his time and talents with his church and community. He served in various elders quorum roles, as a Sunday School teacher, and as a Young Men leader. He also served for many years on the Board of Directors of American Conservation Experience (ACE), a nonprofit that engages young people in conservation projects. After serving several years as chair, he was named ACE’s first and only Honorary Board Member. He also volunteered with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, conducting fish surveys, and received the UACPA Rising Star Award in 2014. In 2025, YHA established the annual Shayne Miller Impact Award and Scholarship Fund in his honor, recognizing employees who positively impact the lives of those around them each day.
On May 14, 2024, Shayne was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Although this news changed the expected timeline of his life, Shayne continued to learn, love, and give. In his final years, he continued to work, spend meaningful time with those he loved, and collaborate with bioengineering students at the University of Utah on the development of a robotic neck brace for people living with ALS. Despite the challenges of his illness, Shayne never let it define the way he lived. He continued to pursue the things that brought him joy, including his beloved annual fishing trips, where, on one memorable day, he proudly netted 20 fish.
Shayne is survived by his beloved wife, Nyla; his children, Brayden, Kaitlyn, and Alexia; his mother, Tracey; his siblings, Sauna, Derek (Camille), Erin (Bruce), Tylan (Marcy), Cody (Kristen), and Megan (Brian); his sisters-in-law, Wendy and April (Ron); and his 31 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, David, and his brother-in-law, Sterling.
Shayne’s greatest legacy lives on in those he loved. His counsel and patience left a lasting imprint on his family, his friends, and all whose lives he touched.
Funeral services will be held at Noon on Friday, August 21, 2026 at the Sunridge Ward, 1850 East 8600 South in Sandy Utah. A visitation will be held on Thursday evening, August 20, 2026 from 6-8 PM at Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary, 1950 East Dimple Dell Road in Sandy, Utah. Another visitation will be held prior to funeral services at the ward beginning at 10:30 AM. Interment will follow at the Memorial Holladay Cemetery.
Funeral services will be streamed and recorded via Zoom for those wishing to attend virtually. To watch the previously held services, please click the "Watch Services" link above.