Three former Eastern Michigan University employees died
during May. They included a buyer in the purchasing department,
a senior secretary in the College of Business's marketing
department and an accountant.
Elizabeth K. Brown, a buyer in Eastern Michigan University's
purchasing department from 1967-1994, died May 28. She
was 86.
Brown, who was born in Ypsilanti, attended kindergarten
at Michigan Normal Training School, then located in Welch
Hall. She continued her education in Ypsilanti public schools
and returned to EMU in 1938 for college. She graduated
in 1942 with a bachelor's degree in education.
Brown returned to Eastern once again in 1967, to work
in the purchasing department. Her responsibilities included
purchasing machinery, furniture, service and general office
supplies, books, art materials, computers and music equipment
for the University.
"It's hard to imagine that I attended kindergarten, undergraduate
classes and worked in the same building," Brown once said
in a newspaper article, about her time spent in Welch Hall.
EMU played a big role in Brown's family's education. Her
mother received a teaching certificate from Michigan State
Normal College in 1910. Her son and daughter received master's
degrees from EMU in fine arts and education, respectively.
While working at Eastern, Brown was promoted to senior
buyer, and served as the secretary and treasurer of the
union. She retired in 1994, to spend more time with her
family.
Brown was a member of St. James United Church of Christ
in Saline, and volunteered for Arbor Hospice. She resided
in Clinton until the time of her death.
Survivors include her two daughters, Connie McCreedy,
of Clinton, and Linda Heimbach, of Ft. Wayne, Ind.; and
one sister, Francis Peebles, of Ann Arbor.
Funeral services took place June 1 at the Clinton Chapel
of Couture-Handler Funeral Homes.
Memorial contributions may be made to Saline Hospital
or to Arbor Hospice.
LaDona Marie Ellis, a senior secretary in the marketing
department of the College of Business at Eastern Michigan
University from 1966-1990, died May 28. She was 73.
Ellis was born in Ypsilanti and graduated from Ypsilanti
High School in 1951. She married Duane Ellis in 1953, and
had two sons.
Ellis was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of
Ypsilanti, the Miriam Circle and the Recycled Teenagers
Travel Club. She enjoyed traveling and spending time at
her cottage at Houghton Lake. She was residing in Chelsea
at the time of her death.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, Michael Ellis,
of Grand Blanc, and David Ellis, of Ypsilanti; one uncle,
LaForrest Beauregard, of Clinton; and eight grandchildren.
Funeral services took place June 1 at the First Presbyterian
Church of Ypsilanti.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the First Presbyterian
Church Organ Fund.
Elnora Ruth Miller, an accountant at EMU from 1952-1979,
died May 16. She was 91.
Born in Coopersville, Miller originally planned on being
a rural teacher. She received her teaching certificate
from Michigan State Normal College in 1934. After getting
a job at the Ypsilanti Savings Bank, Miller chose, instead,
to pursue a career in accounting.
When Miller started work at Eastern, she was one of only
six people in the accounting department. The office paid
the bills of the University, typed purchase orders and
wrote and mailed checks. During registration, the office
closed so that Miller and her co-workers could collect
tuition from students, often working from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
By the time of her retirement, Miller was the supervisor
of accounts payable, a department consisting of 30 people.
Miller's husband, Frank, also worked at Eastern, in the
central stores and receiving department.
The two were married in 1934, and retired together in
1979. Before they retired, the Millers traveled to Hawaii
on the first trip sponsored by the Alumni Office. Frank
died in 1981, at the age of 71.
Since her retirement, Miller had been active in the community.
She volunteered a total of 10,500 hours at Beyer Hospital,
served as secretary and Past Matron of Chapter #119 of
the Eastern Star, and was a member of the First Presbyterian
Church of Ypsilanti. Miller was residing at the Gilbert
Residence at the time of her death.
Survivors include her nephews, Alfred and Donald Congdon,
and many grandnieces and nephews.
The funeral service was May 20, at Stark Funeral Service
Moore Memorial Chapel. Contributions may be made in her
memory to the Eastern Star.
