Lois C. (Chase) Milne

Lois Chase Milne, of Brecksville, Ohio, died July 15 at age 98.
Mrs. Milne was born in 1928 at the family farm on Reynolds Road in Mentor, Ohio, to

Marion Gunn and Melvin Chase. The last surviving child, she and her nine brothers and sisters enjoyed backyard ball games and trips to Mentor Headlands Beach. At Hathaway Brown School, she lettered in several sports, graduating in 1946. At Ohio Wesleyan University, she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and majored in fine arts, graduating with a BFA in 1950. A highlight of her college studies was a summer art course touring Europe. At OWU, she also met a dashing Phi Psi named “Sandy” Milne from Saginaw MI with whom she grew a family of five children, ten grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

In 1956 the Milnes built a house on Glen Valley Road in Brecksville where Lois lived until moving to Greenwood Village in 2012. The children remember playing in the woods all around the home until Mom’s trademark whistle meant time to come home. She often kept them entertained with tales of Sara Sputternich, a folksy crone in the valley below. While raising her family, Lois maintained her art skills by creating displays or programs for places like the Brecksville Library and the Congregational Church. She was accepted into the Historical Society for Early American Decoration and continued to perfect her painting skills for decades. Favorite subjects included woodland critters, birds and butterflies. Also skilled as a natural athlete, Lois was a champion golfer at Chagrin Valley Country Club, where she and Sandy enjoyed lively matches of paddle tennis.

Lois and Sandy welcomed each “rascally” grandchild and delighted in following their busy worlds. The couple embarked on many cross-country trips visiting family from Florida to Oregon to Arizona. A lifetime dream was fulfilled when they spent 3 weeks driving around Scotland, locating the parishes of Sandy’s ancestors.

The family left to cherish her memory includes: daughters Susanne Harland (Brent), Bonnie Gardner (Bruce), Heather Bemis (Todd), son Robert Milne (Sandra), grandchildren Jody Harland, Amanda Harland, Jesse Gardner (Lauren), Libby Gardner (Brian), Cory Milne (Matt), Alex Milne Smith (Austin), Ruby Bemis Vanderhorne (Josh), Addy Bemis, Zander Milne, Kalista Milne, great grandson Adam Vanderhorne, and goddaughter Beth Chase Snyder. Lois was preceded in death by husband Alexander Robert “Sandy” Milne and son Gordon Milne.

A private family celebration is planned. The family invites you to leave a memory in the guest book on this site.

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