Ellen Leighton Miller went home to the Lord on Jan. 30 surrounded by her family at Cove’s Edge in Damariscotta.
Ellen was born on Sept. 11, 1922 in Gardiner, the daughter of the late Marjory K.D. Leighton and Linwood P. Leighton Sr. Ellen was a direct descendent of the Mayflower Pilgrims. Ellen was a resident of Eastport and Damariscotta.
She was named after her Aunt Ellen “Ettie” Handrin of Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. and North Bimini, Bahamas. Ellen’s lifelong passion for music, literature, dance and the arts was greatly influenced by her Aunt Ettie.
Ellen enjoyed a career that started when she was 11 years old hosting her own radio show called The Friendly Girls Club sponsored by Buster Brown Shoes. The show was a favorite of other young girls and she entertained them with a great sense of humor, incredible wit, singing, playing the piano, tap dancing, doing dramatic readings, on-air plays and interviewing politicians, luminaries and celebrities of the 1930s. This early training and exposure served her well for her entire life.
She attended Lincoln Academy and the University of Maine. After graduation from Lincoln Academy in 1940, she spent five years working as assistant to the President of The First National Bank of Damariscotta. On May 25, 1945 she married Roger Miller. They made their home in Waldoboro and at Hocomok Point. During the 40s and 50s she was heavily involved in Maine and national politics during the family’s tenure in the Blaine House and U.S. Senate. She was a frequent delegate to Republican Party Conventions an avid campaigner and popular member of Maine’s first family. Ellen always enjoyed participating in political events with Margaret Chase Smith and had great respect for Senator Smith’s human connection with the people of Maine. A major fan of baseball all of her life, Ellen always relished the annual events when the family entertained members of the Boston Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers at the Blaine House and at their family compound at Hocomok Point. She had many fond memories of her conversations with Joe DiMaggio.
Following a decade with New York life, she spent over 30 years selling real estate throughout Maine and retired at the age of 80. She was the top broker with Mark Stimson Associates for over 10 years. Ellen was active in the Maine and National automobile dealers associations, Maine and National oil dealers associations, Maine Republican Party, and Regional Memorial Hospital in Brunswick. She also served as hostess at Montpellier, home of General Henry Knox.
Locally, Ellen served as member of the Eastern Star, chairman of the building committee of Miller School in Waldoboro and was chairman of the Waldoboro School Board, president of the Waldoboro PTA, and board member of the Waldoboro Library. She was involved with Cub Scouts, Brownies and Girl Scouts, coached girls’ softball, taught Sunday school and tap dancing. Ellen was an avid bridge and poker player. She loved reading, consuming several books a week.
On her 75th birthday she was honored by Maine Governor Angus S. King Jr. when he declared by official State of Maine Proclamation Sept. 11-18, 1997 as Ellen Leighton Miller Week in Maine in honor of her lifetime of accomplishments in business, broadcasting, politics and community service.
Ellen’s greatest loves in life were her parents, husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her former husband, Roger E. Miller; and oldest daughter, Caroline A.M. Woodbury; and brothers, Charles Leighton and Linwood Leighton Jr.
She is survived by daughters, Mary E.M. Nicoll and husband Gordon F. Nicoll of Newcastle, Marjory K.M. Walters and husband Ronald Hedley Walters of Norwich, Conn.; son, John H. Miller II of Eastport, Waldoboro and Nadi, Fiji Islands; son-in-law, Timothy Woodbury of Newcastle; brothers, Porter Leighton and wife Patricia, and Thomas Leighton and wife Shirley; grandsons, Brian Miller Woodbury and wife Mary, Frederick R. Woodbury and partner Sharon, Bud Nicoll and wife Heather, Peter J. Nicoll and wife Elin, and Jonathan G. Miller and partner Tomoko Toyota; grand-daughter, Kate Woodbury Webber and husband Robert; and great-grandchildren, Nicholas, Megan, Emily, Christopher, Derick, Nathan, Thomas, Jackson, and Merrick.
Lala and Auntie Lala as she was affectionately known, is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family including June Daniels, Barbara Daniels, Sumner T. Daniels Jr., Mary Ella Payne, Frederick G. Payne II, Robert and Nancy Pagles, Marion Pagles, Mark Leighton, Debbie Leighton, Linwood Leighton III, Gail Elinwood, Jana Leighton, Andy Leighton, Katy Leighton Keene, Kevin Leighton, Kristen Leighton Hoot, Rachel Leighton, Honorable Garrett Handrin, Robert Nicoll, Aubrey Nicoll, and Peter Nicoll; as well as the family of health care professionals at Cove’s Edge who became part of her extended family.
Services and a celebration of life will be held at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Newcastle in the spring.
The family has requested that donations be made in lieu of flowers to Cove’s Edge, c/o LCH Development Office, 35 Miles St., Damariscotta, ME 04543.