Miller, Lauramay 1911-1999

MILLER, FOSTER, TICE, NEAL, SPEAS

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 9/12/2016 at 19:19:38

The Montezuma (IA) Republican
May 12, 1999

LAURAMAY MILLER, 87

Lauramay Miller, 87, died May 2, 1999, at Baptist Hospital, Nashville, Tenn.

Her funeral was May 7 at Watts Funeral Home in Montezuma. Brother Richard Reed of Cedar Rapids officiated.

Music was "The Gathering Melody," "My Savior's Love" and "Softly and Tenderly."

Casket bearers were Dale Neal, Michael Spain, Glenn Speas and Larry Steele. Honorary casket bearers were Michael Neal Spain and Tabitha Peace.

Interment was in Jackson Township Cemetery in Montezuma.

Mrs. Miller was born Oct. 12, 1911 in Searsboro, the only daughter along with seven brothers of John Eugene and Grace (Tice) Foster. She graduated from Searsboro High School in 1929 and took normal training at William Penn College in Oskaloosa.

On Aug. 3, 1931, she married Melvin C. Miller in Salem. Their marriage last 67 years. Together, they raised a family of four children, Terry Dale, Joseph Eugene, Kathryn Grace and JoAnn.

Mrs. Miller taught rural school from 1930 until 1933. After starting a family, she stayed home to raise her children before returning to teach in 1954. In 1957, she joined the faculty at BGM schools and taught 5th grade.

During the next several years, she was a part-time student at William Penn College, earning her bachelor's degree in 1965. Later, she did graduate work at Drake University in Des Moines.

In 1967, she began teaching reading, vocabulary and writing. She initiated the project, "Read, Think and Do" in which students were responsible for reading about an event or object and then sharing their ideas with nursing home residents. She retired from BGM in 1977.

Mrs. Miller enjoyed family activities, church events, visiting the old homestead, hunting mushrooms and traveling throughout the U.S.

Mrs. Miller was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, Merle, Lyle, Max, Art and Keith Foster; her husband, Melvin on December 20, 1998 and one grandson.

She is survived by two brothers, Thomas Foster of Ashton, Ill. and Carrol Foster of Phoenix, Ariz.; four children and their spouses, Terry and Anne Miller of Keysville, Va.; Joe and Linda Miller of Cedar Rapids, Kathy and Dale Neal of Henderson, Tenn. and JoAnn and Glenn Speas of Cottontown, Tenn.; 13 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, many friends and other relatives.

Funeral arrangements were by Watts Funeral Home of Montezuma.