Lori Miller, a former Mentone EMS employee who was involved in numerous community service projects in the Mentone area, passed away unexpectedly at age 60 on Monday, April 4. Mentone EMS leaders created this memorial to her with items including her EMS jacket and bag in front of the emergency services building in Mentone. Photo provided.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

MENTONE — “Mama Lori” has passed away.

Lori Miller, whom several people described as being like a mother to Mentone first responders, passed away unexpectedly at age 60 on Monday, April 4, while on vacation in Tennessee. She’d had a long career with Mentone EMS before her retirement.

Her death “leaves a real hole in our community,” said Mentone Fire Chief Mike Yazel.

He said Miller, whose husband Doug is one of Mentone Fire Department’s assistant chiefs, was like “a mother hen to the firemen and EMS.” Mentone EMS Director Tony McKinney agreed, saying they referred to her as “Mama Lori.”

That was due to her offering support to others on the team when they dealt with tough situations.

Miller began her career with the EMS in 1994, starting out as a driver before becoming an emergency medical responder, then training officer.

She trained current Mentone EMS Operations Supervisor Bobby Asher. He noted she was “eager to teach, eager to mold” new emergency workers. Her compassion for helping victims was also contagious, he said.

Though their jobs involved dealing with serious situations, Asher noted a favorite memory of Miller was how she once made a joke to McKinney.

He said Miller and McKinney were headed out to an emergency when their ambulance hit a bunch of turkeys. She later presented a stuffed turkey to McKinney.

Miller also provided support in the first responders’ lives, said Asher.

He said Miller was one of the first people he spoke with after his mother passed away recently. He shared with her how he was angry with God for letting his mother die after she battled so much else. He said Miller helped him deal with the situation.

“Not only did I lose my real mom (recently), I also lost my EMS mom,” he said.

Community service

Additionally, Miller helped others in the community by volunteering at various events. She helped with fish fries and passed out doughnut holes to kids at the fire station on Halloween and water to runners during the Mentone Egg Festival’s race.

The latter was an activity her friend, Mentone Town Council President Jill Gross, enjoyed doing with her. The two served together on Mentone EMS’ board, with Miller being the current vice president and Gross the president. Miller also served as its president for a time.

Gross said a favorite memory of Miller was one time years ago when the circus came to Mentone. She remembered Miller riding on an elephant with Gross’ oldest daughter.

She was “a true friend,” said Gross.

Full of energy

Miller may have been able to tackle many causes due to her energy.

Yazel described her as “a real energetic person.” Her pastor at Beaver Dam United Methodist Church, Butch Troke, recalls Miller being in “constant motion.”

It’s been a number of years since Miller was a cheerleader while at Tippecanoe Valley High School, but her passion for causes continued on through the end of her life.

Gross called her “the biggest and best cheerleader the EMS could have had.”

“When she cared about (something), she cared about it all the way,” said Troke.

That included her work with the church’s Wheels on Fire-Cancer Crusaders. The group has raised more than $161,000 to help those battling cancer in Kosciusko and Fulton counties. Miller was a founding member of the organization and was serving as its head at the time of her passing.

Troke praised Miller’s cheerful spirit. “If you’d want to have your day perked up, you’d talk to Miss Loribell,” he said, referring to his nickname for her.

He and Gross also noted Miller’s faith. Gross called her “a prayer warrior,” saying Miller had prayed for her while she struggled with health issues.

Troke said Miller’s faith encompassed her life. “She lived her faith every day,” he said.

One of the groups Miller was heavily involved with was Beaver Dam United Methodist Church’s Wheels on Fire-Cancer Crusaders. At the time of her death, she was serving as the head of the group, which has raised more than $161,000 to help those battling cancer in Kosciusko and Fulton counties. In this InkFreeNews file photo from November 2021, Miller, second from right in the middle row, presents a check to one of the organizations through which Wheels on Fire helps cancer patients.