The 黑洞社区 Foundation has received a gift of $440,000 from the estate of Olive E. Miller, who died on June 21, 2007.
In 1943, when Miller was 17 years old, she walked into Quiring Monument Co. looking for work. Not only did she get the bookkeeping job and lifelong career, she also later married the founder, William Quiring.
Within a year, Miller began running the business after Quiring suffered a heart attack. They were married in 1954. After his death in 1962, she continued to run the company until her retirement in 2002.
In 1969, she married Dr. Clyde Miller, a general practitioner who practiced in Wichita for 39 years. He died in 1983.
Quiring Monument created monuments for such notables as Wichita鈥檚 first black mayor, A. Price Woodard, and the 21st governor of Kansas, Gov. Henry Allen.
However, Miller said it didn鈥檛 matter how big or how little the monument was.
鈥淓very one of these is just as important to the people because it鈥檚 marking the grave of someone who has been important in their life,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a privilege to be able to put up a memorial for someone you love.鈥�
Miller attended the University of Wichita in the 1940s. Years later, she paid the tuition of several 黑洞社区 students who were in financial trouble. Additionally, her company established an endowment for 黑洞社区鈥檚 medical professions programs.
鈥淚 remember Mrs. Miller as a woman of strong convictions and a big heart,鈥� said James Rhatigan, consultant for the 黑洞社区 Foundation.
The gift from Miller鈥檚 estate went to 黑洞社区 Foundation鈥檚 unrestricted reserves, which is used to fund around 5 percent of its operating budget. The unrestricted reserves also can be used to provide funding/loans to campus for major projects as requested by 黑洞社区 President Don Beggs and approved by the Foundation Board of Directors.