Meier Liu Lue

Time line of Meier Liu Lue

Meier Liu Lue, 81, passed away peacefully at her San Diego home in the early hours of February 24, 2024. The beloved matriarch of her family, she is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Jinwun Winston Lue, her oldest daughter Lynn Lue Wang, her son-in-law Marcus J. Wang, her second daughter Vicki Emma Bailey, her son-in-law Brian T. Bailey, her grandchildren Lucas Wang, Austin Wang, Connor Wang, Jonah Bailey, and Rachel Bailey.

Meier was the third daughter of ten children born into the Suilai Liu family in Hsinpu, Taiwan on October 4, 1942. Growing up, she was very close to all her siblings. Even as they became adults and moved away, she continued to communicate with them frequently through a family online chat group. Meier was a bright child and loved learning. She was a top student at the Hsinpu elementary and middle schools and through vigorous exams, became a student at the prestigious Hsinchu Girls High School. After graduation, she enrolled at the National Taiwan Academy of Arts where she received her degree in public communications.

While still in college she took a job as a lab assistant at a local middle school where she met a handsome young new teacher, Jinwun Winston Lue. After three years of dating, they were married in 1968. Later that year Jinwun left Taiwan and came to the United States to further his graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Meier joined him in Pittsburgh two years later and it was there that their first daughter, Lynn, was born.

After receiving his PhD, Jinwun accepted a post-doctoral position at Indiana University in Bloomington. While there, Meier gave birth to their second daughter, Vicki. In 1974 the young family moved to Madison, Wisconsin where Jinwun began his second post-doctoral research position at the University of Wisconsin. It was there that Meier was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, a disease that limited her mobility, especially her neck, for the rest of her life.

In 1975, the young family was on the move again, this time to Knoxville, Tennessee where Jinwun joined the Fusion Energy Division of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. That November, the Taiwanese students at the University of Tennessee formed the Taiwanese Association of Knoxville and the Lues were among the earliest to join. The Lues actively participated in all their activities including parties at members’ homes that became their main social events. When it was their turn to host, Meier always spent countless hours preparing plenty of delicious food for all the guests in spite of her chronic illness. Meier was also an accomplished writer who frequently penned heartfelt articles along with news updates for members of the Taiwanese Association in their newsletter. Along with Jinwun, and despite her physical limitations, Meier enjoyed playing tennis with other Association members well into her 60’s.

After both of her daughters started high school, Meier decided to do more learning of her own and enrolled at the local Pellissippi State Community College where she received an associates degree. Shortly thereafter she started a job as an administrative assistant in a medical clinic and was on the job for the next 15 years.

In 2004, after living in Knoxville for 29 years, Meier and Jinwun decided to retire and move to San Diego to join Lynn’s family. Shortly after arriving they joined the Taiwanese American Community Center (TACC, Taiwan Center) which became the main staple of their social life. Dinner parties, watching shows, dance lessons, ping pong games, and choruses were some of the activities they were able to enjoy. Meier continued her writing and submitted essays and updates for the Center’s newsletter. Despite her physical limitations she was also able to play golf with her husband.

Meier also joined the Buddhist Tzu Chi Charity Foundation and volunteered in their San Diego Service Center. She took all the necessary training courses and volunteered at many charity and aid events, even traveling to Los Angeles, Mexico and Taiwan. She eventually became a member of the Tzu Chi Foundation Committee and continued her volunteerism until her deteriorating health would no longer allow it.

Meier was very kind, gentle and strong willed. She took excellent care of her family, and raised two very beautiful and talented daughters. She was able to enjoy time with her 5 grandchildren and will be sorely missed by family and friends. Visitation will be held at El Camino Memorial in Sorrento Valley on Monday, March 11, 2024 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.