David Lee Miner

In Loving Memory of David Lee Miner

July 16, 1958 – October 28, 2020

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”  Mathew 11:28 On Wednesday, October 28, 2020 David Lee Miner, described by his colleagues as a kind and thoughtful man, entered Eternal Rest following a four-year battle with Leiomyosarcoma, a soft muscle cancer.  Dave was the youngest of three children born to Herbert Eugene and Leona Faye Miner.  Born on July 16, 1958 in Alton, Illinois, Dave was a sports enthusiast from an early age.   He participated in various sports in junior high and high school.  He played both offense and defense in football at East Alton - Wood River High School.  Other sports included basketball, baseball, track, and wrestling.   He placed second in the IHSA 2A Sectional Wrestling Tournament and still holds the school shot put record of 55 ft. A member of the National Honor Society, Dave also performed in one of his high school plays.   After graduating in 1976, Dave attended Arkansas State in Jonesboro before transferring to Eastern Illinois University.  While playing for the EIU Panthers, Dave helped the football team win the 1978 Division II National Championship under Head Coach, Darrel Mudra; Offensive Coordinator, Mike Shanahan; and offensive line coach, JoeTaylor.   Dave’s post college football career started with the American Football Association’s minor league team the Chicago Fire, which was the 1981 Western Division Champion.  After playing for the Fire, he earned a position on the USFL Michigan Panthers.  Injuries led to an early exit from professional football but not from a continued career in football.   He transitioned from playing football to coaching football and teaching Driver’s Education at Mt Morris High School in Illinois.  In his first game as Head Coach, Dave led a team that was last in their district to victory over the state champions by teaching the boys the value of dedication and perseverance.   Despite his success in playing and coaching football, Dave felt he was being called to a career of service.   Citing his father’s death in an automobile accident when Dave was just 10 months old, Dave felt motivated to teach Driver’s Education as a career.   David moved to Houston, TX in the late 1980’s to work for a commercial driving school, which offered courses for teenagers and defensive driving.  After a few months, he went to work for Safeway Driving School where he met and married his Love of a Lifetime , Tedie.  He eventually opened Stay Safe Driving School where he focused on instructing teenagers both in the classroom and behind the wheel.  He also provided in-car instruction to adults, taught defensive driving, and gave the road test required for obtaining a driver’s license.  Thousands of students benefited from his expertise and patience during his more than 30-year career.  His school had one of the best records for producing collision-free drivers.   Dave was an avid Houston Texans fan and proudly boasted, as of the end of the 2019 season, that he only missed five home games since their home opener in 2002.  He especially enjoyed meeting with former EIU coaches Mike Shanahan before an Oilers game, and John Teerlinck each time the Indianapolis Colts came to play the Houston Texans.  His free time was spent working out and playing dominoes with friends.  When packing for hospital stays, resistance bands were the first thing he put into his bag.  On many occasions doctors walked into the room to find Dave doing crunches or sit-ups.  He also fancied himself a dancer and loved to show off his skills for the nurses. He teased them relentlessly.  His favorite game was to pretend he was asleep and say “BOO” when they approached him to check his blood pressure and temperature.  Doctor appointments always included “Hide and Seek  Behind the Curtain.”  Dave always joked, remained positive, and was health and fitness conscious until the end.   David was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, his mother, father, and brother, Elvin Benefiel.  He is survived by his wife of 28 years, the former Tedie Oltz, brother Ron Miner of Aurora, Colorado, sister Carol Layne (Dave Ruede) of Narragansett Rhode Island; sister Lisa Benefiel of Clarksville, Tennessee; 8 nieces and nephews, 3 grand nephews, many cousins, the 1978 EIU football team, Champions AA group, and numerous friends.   David sincerely appreciated the efforts and quality of care provided by the doctors and nurses of Baylor College of Medicine, CHI St. Luke’s Hospital, MD Anderson, Kinder Home Health Care and Hospice Plus.   A Memorial Celebration will be held with further notification when it is safe for large gatherings.  Those wishing to honor Dave’s memory may do so by contributing to Leiomyosarcoma research or a preferred youth group.   Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.   Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Death-Of-Loved-One