Lee Carver Muller

OBITUARY OF LEE CARVER MULLER Lee Carver Muller, formerly of Mt. Laurel, N.J. and Bluffton, S.C. died peacefully in Springfield, VA on February 21, 2020, surrounded by family. Lee was born in Washington, D.C. on July 24, 1932 to the late Harry and Esther Carver. She spent her childhood flitting from home to school to the loving homes of her grandparents. She especially loved stopping for lunch in her paternal grandparents’ grocery store. She loved music and devoted much of her early life to becoming an accomplished dancer. After marrying at the age of twenty, she quickly became a mother of four rambunctious children. A fifth child followed a few years later to round out the Holland brood. Lee’s roles expanded to become the Math and English tutor, the sports fan, the dog walker and the unofficial den mother to the neighborhood kids who found our house as welcoming as their own. When the youngest child went off to school, Lee began working – first as a secretary at the high school and eventually rising to be the secretary for the town school board. The chaos of that organization was an endless source of incredible stories and cemented Lee’s reputation for steely resolve. During this time, she experienced divorce and then met the love of her life: Ray Muller. Lee and Ray loved to travel: to the beach at Stone Harbor, N.J., to the Matson’s lake home at Findley Lake, NY and especially, on cruise ships. Lee and Ray enjoyed many cruises to the Caribbean and Hawaii. After retiring from the school board, Lee continued to travel with Ray, she indulged in her love of reading and became more involved in her church. She eventually trained as a Stephen Minister, finding a new avenue to provide comfort to those around her. It was after Ray passed away that Lee received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Although her independence was gradually restricted, she handled her situation with grace and contentment. She often surprised us with her ability to recall little details of hers, and our, lives and she frequently found small ways to look out for the interests of other residents. Lee was also a favorite of the staff at Aarondale Inspiritas, who showered her with love and attention. The family very much appreciates the loving care they provided. Lee is survived by her five children, Cary Holland (Lane Palmisano), Nancy Gilson (Jim), David Holland (Mary Brady), Lisa Matson (Gary), Jon Holland (Sharon Grubb), by Raymond Muller’s daughter, Valerie Muller (Donald Robbins), 12 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren, as well as her sister, Linda McReynolds (Mike) and numerous nieces and nephews. Lee was pre-deceased by her sister Ann Blanchard. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090 or Every Mother Counts (everymothercounts.org).