Larry Roger Miller

Larry Roger Miller was born in Mt. Clemens, Michigan on December 1, 1954, to Lawrence and Kathryn Miller. He died peacefully in the presence of his daughter, Carrie Miller, and his grandson, Trenton Waggoner, on June 28, 2025, following a long struggle with dementia. Larry is survived by his mother, Kathryn, his children, Brandon and Carrie, his best friend, Dan Noirot, his grandchildren, Trenton and Geraldine, and his siblings, Chris Hufnagel and Lynn Hanegan. His father and siblings, Eileen Jackson and Mark, predeceased him.

Larry was truly one of a kind – he had a big personality with a zest for living fully and authentically. He was comfortable speaking with anyone – and did so frequently! Larry was fiercely loyal, would do anything for his friends and family, and had a great gift for gabbing, hosting, and cooking. If you were lucky enough to be invited for dinner at his home, you could expect great wine, lively conversation, and an over-the-top tablescape. However, you might have had to wait until after midnight for the meal to be served, as he was easily distracted by his guests' company. He possessed a powerful sense of humor, which he used to uplift others and, on occasion, to gently nudge a poorly-behaved guest towards better manners in a restaurant (e.g., "Did you forget to say please!?," delivered with a sly grin).

Larry and his siblings were raised in Bridgeport, Michigan, where his mother helped to instill his love of cooking. Later, he loved cooking for her, and also showering her with beautiful dresses and jewelry at Christmas and on her birthdays. He married Sally Bhirdo in 1975, and they had two children, Brandon and Carrie, who he loved deeply. He later came out and lived as a proud gay man in mid-Michigan in the early 1980s, an era when that required great courage. Despite having a challenging childhood, he was able to break the mold and help raise his children in a loving, supportive manner. Larry would frequently brag to anyone who would listen about his children's successes, in which he loved to revel.

He cherished spending every Father’s Day with Carrie at the Flint Art Fair, sharing his passion for gardening with her, and always welcoming her friends into his home for holiday dinners. He also instilled in her a strong work ethic. For example, during her senior year of high school, Carrie was surprised when he readily agreed that a $500 prom dress she coveted was beautiful and encouraged her to buy it. He then identified four catering events she could work to earn the money to pay for it, effectively teaching her the concept of value for money.

Larry also loved spending time with Brandon and his husband, Ekachai “Chai” Pattamasattayasonthi. They shared a passion for cooking, traveling, and throwing great parties, which he helped to pull off in their Boston and Washington, DC homes, wowing guests with his roasted leek soup and made-from-scratch lasagna. One of his fondest memories was traveling to Madagascar with Brandon, where he had served as a Peace Corps Volunteer. He warmly interacted with Malagasy friends, explored jungles with lemurs, and enjoyed boat rides and eating freshly grilled fish in the stunningly beautiful Antsiranana Bay.

Larry frequently traveled to Florida to visit Dan and his partner, Bill. He was especially fond of his time spent at Siesta Key and Sanibel Island. He took his children and grandchildren to North Carolina, where he had warm childhood memories of summers with his Aunt Mary. Larry enjoyed sharing his love of time outdoors kayaking or hiking, exploring vintage shops, and eating southern food with his children and grandchildren during his trips to the South.

Among his greatest achievements was becoming a successful restaurant owner and caterer in Flint, Michigan, where he spent the majority of his professional life. Larry was never afraid of a challenge; when a surly chef quit mid-shift on a busy night, Larry grabbed the apron and took over the line. He was incredibly talented with food; equally focused on taste and presentation. With his former partner and best friend, Dan, he operated one of Flint’s best restaurants, City Lights, for several years. He catered hundreds of events in Genesee County and beyond, affairs known for great feasts and warm hospitality. Miraculously, he never realized his greatest fear of running out of food!

Larry loved the finer things in life, collecting Roseville pottery and Tiffany lamps and supporting local artists, occasionally commissioning work to decorate his home and the homes of his friends and children. He loved exploring museums, great restaurants, estate sales, real estate, and farmers markets. He loved animals, especially his famously fat dog, Chop, a mutt with a bum leg who loved the grilled steak Larry would make for him at the end of a long day. Late in his life, Larry courageously overcame a battle with alcoholism, replacing it with a less dangerous vice, ice cream, which he savored deeply and shared generously.

Carrie and her late fiancé, Jeremy Gabriel, lovingly took care of Larry as he started to succumb to dementia. Jeremy had a special gift for getting him in a good mood, even on his worst days, helping to shave him while playing his favorite Stevie Wonder or Diana Ross hits.

A celebration of life in the form of a fabulous backyard barbecue with family, friends, great food, and Motown Hits will be held in due course, because if you knew Larry, you know he certainly would not have appreciated a sad, stodgy funeral. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Larry’s name to the Flint Institute of Arts. Arrangements were entrusted to Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Road, Swartz Creek. Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com