Roosevelt Park’s longest living resident passes away

How do you say goodbye to someone whose legacy and efforts within the community had far-reaching positive effects?

It’s simple, you don’t, and you let their legacy continue to welcome people in the community through positive actions. On 10 September the Roosevelt Park community was hit hard by the death of Kay Miller, who on 23 September, would have celebrated her 96th birthday.

Kay was the community’s longest-living resident having been a part of it since 1948 when the suburb was developed. According to Kay’s daughter-in-law, Trudie, the house Kay lived in all these years with her late husband, Harold, was one of the first homes in the community and it was built by the couple. Not only did they build their own home, they also assisted in the building of St Thomas’ Family Church and congregation.

Kay’s only daughter, Ann Hammond, explained her parents were founder members of the committee that brought GEM Homes into being, “Harold was the person in the spotlight (chairperson) while Kay supported by doing admin and secretarial duties.”
Her father was a member of Memorable Order of Tin Hats (Moths) with her mother being involved in meetings, making sure tea/coffee and eats were available at breaks. Kay made sure to continue her efforts for the order by raising funds until last year. The pair are said to have taken a leading role in development and building of Roosevelt Park Recreation Centre of which Kay was the chairperson of the management committee for many years. Here she organised many classes and activities like the cake icing class.

A nurse by profession, she assisted with the Red Cross that met at the Recreation Centre. Kay was also the founding member of Roosevelt Park Tennis Club as she was an avid player who would regularly be seen on the court on Wednesday mornings.

To her children, Kay was a loving hands-on mom who supported her family on whatever journey they were to take in their lives. “Mom will be sorely missed and forever loved.”