MUELLER, Lorna Anne (nee Hoover)
September 16, 1931 - August 16,2015
Lorna Anne Mueller (nee Hoover) passed away in her Drumheller home on Sunday, August 16 with her family present after living a full life of hard work and accomplishments. She was born September 16, 1931 to Arthur and Alma Hoover of Delia/Drumheller, Alberta. She was one of seven children (Irene (Norman Nelson, Leigh Williams), Marion (Don McNeill), Howard (Helen Hoover), Cecil (Charlotte Hoover), Lorna, Verna (Neil McNeill). As a young child her brother Francis Arthur passed away in early 1930’s. Mom started school at Majestic in the fall of 1937; Kelvindale in 1938 - 1943; Buffalo 1943 - 1944 (with sister Marion) followed by Ghost Pine and Farrell Lake (with sister Irene). Mom finished public school at the Drumheller Dormitory for high school. Following public school she was enrolled at Garbutts Business School and worked as a secretary with both MidWest paper, worked with Judge Manly Edwards for her room and board while attending the Institute of Technology and Art (now SAIT). In 1952 she purchased the Morrin Corner Tip Top Service Station and ran this establishment for about one year, then worked as a teletype operator for the CPR until her marriage. She married Harold William Mueller on October 22, 1955 (passed March 20, 2008) in Delia and moved to the Mueller farm in the Orkney District where she and Dad farmed and raised their family. Together they enjoyed dancing and attending functions with friends and family galore. Many people heard Dad’s endearing salutation for Mom which was “Missus” followed by “where’s the coffee?” Coffee, had to have been the #1 most consumed beverage in Mom’s kitchen and the pounds and pounds of coffee served have been endless. In 1959 a wonderful person joined the farm - Frank Laslo. He was a cornerstone and integral part to the Mueller family from that time onwards until his passing in 2013, during which time his wife Blanche also became a treasured friend and confidant. Mom and Dad had five children (Elaine, Darcy, Maxine, Donald, Valerie), 16 grand children, and 7 great grand children. Elaine (husband Wayne; Brady Moses); son Darcy (wife Connie; Mitch (Chelsea), Kolton (Paige), Lincoln, Reagan); daughter Maxine (husband Dale; Darrel (Kristina), Jason, Britney Alford); son Donald (wife Sheri; Zach, Taylor/Wes Kashuba, Madison, Tatum); and youngest daughter Valerie (husband Dave Carnegie; children Justin, Jesse, Brandi (Jon), Trennon). Great grand children Aohdyn, ,Khloe (Darrel/Kristina), Bo, Briley (Kolton/Paige); Alia, Jovyn (Mitchell/Chelsea) and Claudia (Brandi/Jon). Mom was also devoted to the Hoover clan and enjoyed getting us all together on holidays with the Nelson, Hoovers and McNeill’s to share in celebrations with lots of good food, pranks and stories. She was a genuine friend and a neighbour to many people in the Three Hills, Ghost Pine, Orkney, Morrin, Munson, Drumheller and Delia areas. Many of Mom’s close neighbours and special friendships evolved during her time on their farm in Orkney. All who knew her shared and enjoyed her kindness, talents and hospitality. Together Mom and Dad participated in late night ski-doo parties followed by mid-night suppers. She tried her hand at making sausage, butchering beef, wine making and never complained about adding additional place settings to include others for a meal. She was virtually self taught and successful at everything she set out to do and was patient beyond belief. Mom had an amazing influence on all of her kids and took great pleasure in including ‘us kids’ in such activities as plans for building the new house on the farm in 1968-69. She had an incredible way of encouraging her kids so that ‘you felt that you could accomplish anything in the world’. She always made time to spend and nurture her grand children who kept her young at heart and she loved to hear of their activities. They sought her out for wisdom, historical moments of the way things used to be and cherished her recipes. She was infamous for her cinnamon buns and boiled raisin cookies which she shared and were enjoyed by many friends and family. As you can imagine, raising five children and being married on the farm was demanding at the best of times. Unbeknownst to ‘us kids’, Brandi recently informed us that Gramma told her, ‘everyday before the kids came home from school she took a Tylenol’ so we could not have always been a delight for her. Aside from machinery, there were a number of interesting purchases for the farm and on one occasion Dad thought that a necessary item for Mom was a motor boat – she was not amused as she was afraid of water and you can imagine this did not go over well. Mom and Dad moved to Drumheller in 1992 when they built their retirement home and where they had many further happy times. They enjoyed city life including ‘mystery trips’ with friends, dressing up for Halloween, coffee parties as she continued to cook for many with seemingly little effort. In their new home, Mom continued to evolve her talents in the gardens growing everything from tobacco to tomatoes and continued to be a fabulous homemaker. A significant achievement for the family occurred in 2007 the family farm received an award for 100 years of successive farming since it was homesteaded by Robert William Mueller and Otto Mueller in 1907. One saying that became common in her vocabulary after Dad died was “It is, what it is” and her accepting and tenacious spirit enabled her to deal with all of life’s ups and downs. One of her favourite household cleaners or polishers was WD40 which could be dangerous or funny depending upon how and where she used it. During her life, Mom created businesses from ceramics to B & B’s in her home and enjoyed the variety of volunteer organizations such as the Drumheller Agricultural Board and 4-H Sewing Club - Buttons and Bows. Her interests were many and varied. Throughout her life, Mom demonstrated that a beautiful life does not just happen. It is built daily with humility, kindness, sacrifice, forgiveness and unconditional love. On behalf of Lorna’s family, we would like to especially acknowledge the timely, caring and thoughtful attention given to Mom during her many hospital visits/stays or time at home and gratefully thank and mention Dr. Olfert, the staff from Home Care / Drumheller Hospital and Community Services, and Ray Ainscough / staff of Riverside Value Drug Mart. For approximately the past three years Mom has been able to remain in her own home with the assistance of caregivers including: Brandi (grand daughter), Charlene, Betty and most recently Ula who has been Mom’s companion for the last year. We will remember and commemorate Mom’s life with family and friends at Knox United Church, Drumheller, on Friday, August 21 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers we would ask that you choose to donate to Drumheller Hospital Foundation – Greatest Needs or Drumheller Home Care. Courtney-Winters Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements (403 823 2666).
