Stephen Kenneth Miley

Obituary

Stephen Kenneth Miley of North Fort Myers passed away in Tampa, Florida, at Moffitt Cancer Center, on September 5, 2025, after a courageous 4-1/2 year battle with leukemia. He was born on March 24, 1957 to Kenneth and Leota Miley, and spent his entire life in North Fort Myers.

Steve graduated from North Fort Myers High School in 1975, and married his high school sweetheart, Donna (Judge) Miley in December, 1976. The couple raised two sons, Gregory and Stephen, and actively participated in years of coaching baseball and soccer in the local area while the boys were growing up. Steve loved fishing and hunting, and was admired for his proficiency at both. Humble and generous, he loved nothing better than sharing his natural talents with his boys, nieces, nephews, and friends, as well as casual acquaintances. His kindness, positive outlook, innate sense of humor, and quick wit defined him, and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Steve was owner and president of Miley’s Diesel Service, Inc., an authorized Caterpillar Marine Diesel Parts & Service Dealer. He developed his mechanical skills working alongside his father, Ken, who with his mother, Leota, founded the business in 1973. The business originally serviced the local commercial shrimp fleets, but upon Ken’s passing in 1991, Steve and Donna took over the reins, expanding into the pleasure craft industry, and growing into one of the most respected marine diesel service facilities in Southwest Florida. He was regularly called upon by many of his peers for his advice and expertise. He was a great mentor to his employees, all of whom are considered family. Each of them will deeply miss his presence, but through his patience and guidance have inherited the knowledge and skillsets to continue Steve’s legacy.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Leota Miley, his sons, Stephen (2004) and Gregory (2025), father-in-law, Robert Judge (2014), and niece, Melissa Bond (2015). He is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Donna, and extended family who meant the world to him, and him to them – brother-in-law, John Judge (Renee), sister-in-law, Mary Muscente (Mike), mother-in-law, Margaret Spielman (Joe), uncle, Robert Miley (De), aunts Patty (Bill) Armstrong and Judy Drawdy (David), and numerous cousins. He is also survived by his dearly loved nephews, Chris Judge (Brandy, and son, Camden), Steven Allen, and Bradley Allen (daughter Hayden and son Lincoln), and his most precious great-niece, Myla Bond, who affectionately called him “PoPo”.

A celebration of life will be held on Thursday, September 18, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.,
at The National Cremation & Burial Society, 3453 Hancock Bridge Parkway, North Fort Myers, Florida, with a brief memorial service beginning at 7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa
(https://www.moffitt.org) for Leukemia-Myeloid Research in memory of Stephen K. Miley.