Tonya Puckett-Miller, the former wife of Minnesota Twins Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett, has died at the age of 58.
According to an abbreviated obituary page from Brooks Funeral Home, she died Friday, Sept. 15. She had battled glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer, for 20 months, according to the Star Tribune.
Tonya married Kirby in 1986 and they had two children together during his playing days with the Twins. They divorced in 2002. Rochelle Olson of the Strib noted that she spent much of her time as a philanthropist, raising funds for Children’s Heartlink and the Puckett Scholars program.
She remarried Rev. Dr. Melvin Miller in 2013. Miller is the senior pastor at Progressive Baptist Church in St. Paul, where Tonya was known as the First Lady.
Condolences on the passing of Tonya Puckett-Miller, the ex-wife of MLB Hall of Famer and MLB great Kirby Puckett. My thoughts and prayers go out to their children, Kirby Jr. and Catherine. #MNTwins
— Henry Lake (@lakeshow73) September 19, 2023
Puckett-Miller has two children from her marriage with Kirby and the Progressive Baptist Church bio for Rev. Dr. Miller says he and Tonya have seven children combined.
Puckett-Miller’s celebration of life will be held at Progressive Baptist Church this Thursday.
Kirby died at 45 years old in 2006 following a stroke. He was inducted into the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001. He played for the Twins from 1984 to 1995 and led the team to World Series championships in 1987 and 1991.
