Miller Brister, 91, of Waco, died peacefully Tuesday, March 28, 2017 while in residence at the Brookdale Lakeshore senior living community.
Visitation: 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 31st at Lake Shore Funeral Home.
Funeral service: 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 1st at the Lake Shore Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will immediately follow at Waco Memorial Park.
Miller was born on March 21, 1926 in Burleson to Silas Andrew Brister and Vera Marian Robbins Brister. During Miller’s childhood years, the family moved frequently around North Texas, due to his father’s role as a regional sales director for Kraft Foods.
Miller served in the military from 1944-1945 as a Corporal in the Army Air Corps, then enrolled at Baylor University where he earned BBA and MBA degrees. He married Annette Scott of Abilene in 1950 and they raised five children together.
Miller entered business in 1949 with his brother Andrew F. Brister; together they ran the Central Texas Royal Crown Cola Bottling Co. for over 20 years. Miller embarked on a second career as an educator, teaching initially at Baylor’s Hankamer School of Business. He then served on the faculty at McLennan Community College for over 20 years, where he was the coordinator of the Management Development Program.
Miller was an active member and deacon of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church before transferring to Lake Shore Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and Sunday school teacher. In 1981, Miller married Marietta Churchill Brister. Miller and Mary resided in China Spring, where they were active in the China Spring United Methodist Church.
Miller’s commitment to the Waco community included serving on the Action Planning Council (Caritas, Meals on Wheels), and the board of directors for Young Life and Planned Parenthood.
Miller was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, and his brother, Andrew Brister.
Survivors include Annette Scott Brister of Waco; children, Robin Leigh Brister of Traverse City, MI; Scott Andrew Brister and wife, Julie of Georgetown; Susan Catherine Brister of Georgetown; Michal Ann Adams and husband, Paul of Dallas, GA; Steven Miller Brister and husband, Carmine Salvucci of Austin; Jeff Douglas and wife, Angela of Flower Mound; Chris Douglas and wife, Carol of Rowlett; and 16 grandchildren: Caitlyn, Michael, Lizzie, Susannah, Sarah, Mattie, Janelle, Rachel, Baltazar, Andrew, Aaron, Victoria, Isabella, Morgan, Chris, and Shea.
Pallbearers will be Scott Brister, Steven Brister, Carmine Salvucci, Paul Adams, Michael Clark and Baltazar Martinez Jr.
Memorials gifts may be made to the China Spring United Methodist Church.
Lake Shore Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708
Print Obituary & Condolences
My prayers are with all of you. May God Bless and comfort you
Dear Brister Family,
I am so sorry to learn of your father’s passing. I trust that you will find grace and peace in the coming days knowing that he raised a great family.
To the family of Mr. Brister,
I am sorry for your loss.
My prayers are with you.
I was one of the students in the Management Development Program that Mr Brister set up at MCC. That program changed many people’s lives for the better including mine. The knowledge and discussions that he shared with all of his students helped make many of us successful in our business endeavors. RIP and thank you.
Dear Brister children and Annette, I will always have fond memories of our camping trips together and fun times on the evenings our parents had their bridge club. My thoughts and prayers are with you . May God’s peace give you strength. Love, Judy Lynn Allen Bennett
Dear Brister Family,
I am just now able to view Miller’s obituary. Mike and I are so sorry for your loss. We love you and are praying for all the family. God bless you and give you peace at this time.