Laura Evelyn Miller

Laura Miller’s life began August, 1914. She was born in lower Michigan, but was always proud to say that she was a Yooper, as she was conceived in the UP. Laura’s dad was a forester and a first generation immigrant from Germany. Mother was a mix of English, Scottish, and ??

After Laura’s father and mother moved to the Lansing area, Laura was born in a barn that the family was living in before the house that would be built (and still stands on Aurelius road). She was the youngest of 4 girls. Being born 100 years ago certainly had its challenges. But as she thinks back she remembers their horse “Nellie,” that would hitched up to a buggy once a week for a trip downtown to shop for supplies. She remembers her mom taking a short cut through the Mt. Hope Cemetery to save time. As the years went by, her dad did purchase an automobile, which, Laura (being a mischievous child) and her sister took for a joy ride when the parents were not home. (Didn’t get caught.)

Laura met her husband to-be (Correll) at the weekly Sunday night dance that was held at Coral Gables in East Lansing, MI. The price of admission was 10 cents. They dated for a time, and married when she was in her twenties. Together they had two children, Jack and Marilyn.

Laura was a self-taught seamstress, learning how to sew by taking in tailoring to help with the family income. She sewed most of her own and her children’s clothing. Marilyn’s dolls had complete mom-made wardrobes. We had cowboy and cowgirl outfits, sailor suits, coats, etc. etc. She made suit jackets for the special men in her life. She even darned socks! Laura made countless quilts and even rag rugs from left over material. She was also very accomplished at knitting and crocheting. She made baby blankets, baby and adult sweaters, hats, mittens and afghans.

Laura was a very avid flower and vegetable gardener. Her garden was awash with flowers, and she always had vegetables to give to visitors. She singlehandedly transitioned her rock hard clay soil to loam, buy carting dirt from the woods, and composting everything organic.

Hundreds of books are listed in her booklet of “read” books. History and mysteries are the favorites on her list. Multitasking was her way; if she watched TV, she would also knit, hand sew, read, or work on craft projects.

Cooking and baking was always in the mix. And she always had us over for meals, and/or packed up food or baked goods to send home. Pies were her favorite to make, but sometimes we had to eat them with a spoon, but they tasted great!!

Laura also made time to volunteer for the Red Cross, driving patients to Battle Creek for treatments.

Laura had many good friends with which she stayed in touch. She had a special friend and neighbor--Bea Mangino, who still today fondly remembers returning from a long day as a MSU professor and finding soup or a meal that Laura left on her on her doorstep. Bea also attributes her beautiful perennial garden to “starts” from Laura’s plants.

And don’t forget being a great mom who tended to her children with unending love and devotion. Her occasional threats “wait till your father gets home” kept the two kids in check. And much to our dismay, she followed through too, and tattled on us when dad got home. She made sure we had good nutrition, and were not allowed to get up from the table until everything on our plates was eaten. We so wished that we had a dog. Laura also made sure we knew the proper etiquette in a movie theater by pinching us if we were too squirmy or whiney.

After the children were raised and on their own, Laura and Correll enjoyed many years of retirement by spending the winters in Florida.

After Laura’s stroke, she worked extremely hard, learning to walk and move about and use her hands again. She made excellent progress. She walked with a walker, named “Nellie,” after her childhood horse. She continued reading for many years. She finished an afghan that she had started prior to her stroke.

Laura has enriched the lives of many of her caretakers over the last 14 years. Her dry sense of humor is fun for everyone around her and makes her caretaking a pleasure. Her sweet and kind personality with an occasional "ornery” comment has endeared everyone to Laura, and keeps it interesting. Over the 14 years since her stroke, we continually hear the phrase.. “we love Laura.” After all the years of hard work, now Laura enjoys the laughter and upbeat demeanor of all the staff at Timber Ridge, along with the good cooking of Chef Everett, who always caters to her special food needs and double checks with her after the meal to be sure that everything was up to standards!

Bird watching is a pleasure as Laura’s view from her room includes a couple of birdfeeders for the ever so hungry birds. Also of interest is “employees watching” who trek back and forth and back and forth all day.