Obituary of Julia H. Laing-Myers

Julia Ellen Laing-Myers, 88, passed away April 5th at West Volusia Hospice Care Center in Orange City, FL from pancreatic cancer. She was born in Eden, NY in 1924, the daughter of Howard and Jeanette Hill and a sixth generation descendant of one of Eden's founders, John Hill. Julie graduated from Eden Central School in 1942. During the war she was employed for a time at the Prudential Insurance Company in the loan department. In 1946, one month after his return from the war, Julie married her hometown sweetheart, David C. Laing. In 1947 Julie gave birth to a daughter, Sue Ellen, and in 1949 a son, David, Jr. In 1950 David and Julie opened the David C. Laing Funeral Home in a duplex they had bought and lived in, in Eden. She worked behind the scenes assisting David with many of the duties necessary to build a successful business including the difficult chore of keeping the children quiet during the visiting hours and funerals. As the years progressed Julie wore a few different hats. By default, she became the dispatcher for Eden's first ambulance, the Laing Ambulance Service, which grew from the funeral business, as was common in the fifties and early sixties. At one point, for a few years, she answered calls and dispatched the town's police department, as well as being one of several fire phone monitors that activated the town's fire siren when calls came in. Having twins was always a dream of hers and in 1957 Julie gave birth to Bill and Harry. Julie was involved with the Eden United Methodist Church, helping to form a couples club called the Clock Watchers, singing in the choir for fifteen years, leading junior choir, as well as, holding different church offices throughout the years. Julie organized ballroom dancing classes for teenagers in the community. She belonged to Child Study Club followed by the Teen Study Club and also served as Co-Chair of the March of Dimes for 5 years. As a decedent of one of the founding families of Eden, Julia was very involved in the town's history. She was a life member of the Eden Historical Society and served on the Eden Town Historical Review Board. She was a member of the steering committee for the town's sesquicentennial celebration in 1962. Julie was thrilled to be recognized during the town's bicentennial last summer, with the honor of riding in a horse drawn carriage, representing her family's heritage in Eden. Julie was involved with the Buffalo Philharmonic, serving as the Chairman for the Town of Eden's BPO Fund Drive, which led to her serving on the B.P.O. Women's Board. For eight years she and Velma Jessop sold an exclusive line of custom and ready to wear clothes. They would display the clothes and take orders four times a year. As a people person and someone who loved nice clothes this was an enterprise she really enjoyed. Julie was a member of the Up-To-Date Club, as well as, a life member and class representative of the Eden Alumni Association. In 1989 David retired and they sold their business and home to their son Bill and built a new home on HillBrook Drive in Eden. The property, previously belonging to her family, was where she grew up and rode horses as a child. In 1994 David died of cancer. In 1998 Julie married H. David Myers who also grew up in Eden and had lost his wife Alice Jean in 1994. Julie and Dave Myers began spending their winters in DeLand, Florida where Julie's sisters, Hollis Eisele and Patty Worden lived. Julie maintained her home in Eden where she spent her summers. She enjoyed her home and yard doing all her own yard work up until last year when she sold it. Dave and Julie spent a wonderful life together traveling and enjoying many common interests. Besides her husband Dave, Julia is survived by three sons, David Jr., William (Jill) and Harry (Karen) Laing; three stepchildren, Douglas (Jean) and David (Patricia) Myers and Deborah (Clifford) Meilun; twelve grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandson. She is predeceased by a daughter Sue Ellen Light (Stevan), and three sisters, Harriet Moulthrop, Hollis Eisele and Patricia Worden. Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at the Eden United Methodist Church 2820 E. Church St. Eden, NY 14057. Burial will be in Eden Evergreen Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Eden United Methodist Church Hunt Chapel Fund at the same address. Words of sympathy may be left on www.LaingFuneralHome.com