Elaine Adams Miller

Madison -- Elaine Adams Miller, age 78, passed away Thursday, June 11, 2009, at the Fitchburg Hospice Care. Elaine was born Oct. 03, 1930 in Salem Massachusetts, the daughter of James Luther and Margaret (Young) Adams. She is survived by her husband Carol and her two sisters, Eloise Adams (Bethesda, MD) and Barbara A. Thompson (Berwyn, IL). Elaine was a loving mother of four: James, Colorado Springs, CO, Kenneth (Deborah) Bar Harbor, ME, Stephen (Amy) Middleton, WI and Katherine (Tom) Hosmer, Weaverville, CA.

After attending St. Mary's School, Faribault, MN she studied briefly at Grinnell College then transferred to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and went on to attain a Master's in Early Childhood Education from Tufts University. In 1958 she married Carol E. Miller, Jr. of Kirkwood, MO at the University of Chicago, where her father was a professor and he presided over her wedding. Starting their family in Silver Spring, MD, a new career opportunity led them right back to Madison, WI in 1968.

Elaine's house was a center of activity for her children and their friends, where one could always find a funny story and a place to call home. Music played an important part in everything she did, Elaine and Carol were tireless concertgoers, and enjoyed many seasons of the Madison Symphony Orchestra together.

Elaine was an active member of ProRail and enjoyed traveling by train to see her children across the country. A doting grandmother, she could not take enough pictures of her seven grandchildren: Joshua (Colorado Springs), Aaron (Bar Harbor), Mallory and Maisie (Middleton), Bay, Ry, and Pearl (Weaverville).

She was an avid letter writer and kept in contact with school friends and others from across the country. A book of Elaine's travels in post war Europe, ""when the post war world was new"" written by her good friend Maryal Stone, will be published this fall. The Miller family would like to thank her many dear friends for their love and support in her final months and the caring staff of Hospice. A celebration of Elaine's life is being planned for the fall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Madison Symphony Orchestra..

222 W. Washington Ave. Suite 460 Madison WI 53703.