Laura Elizabeth Lillig

Laura Elizabeth Lillig, 100, died Thursday, April 4, 2024 at CarePartners Solace Center. She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Emeline Ford Sheker; her husband, Clifford Eugene Lillig and a grandson, Timothy Joe New.

One of four children, Laura was raised on a farm and attended a one room schoolhouse in Fort Dodge, Iowa through the 8th grade. After graduating high school in 1941, she attended Tobin Business College and then worked as a financial manager at the Boston Store in town. In 1947, she married Clifford Eugene Lillig and moved to southern California where they lived for 42 years. While raising her three daughters, she managed several of their family-owned businesses. They relocated to Hartsville, South Carolina upon retiring and when Cliff passed away after 51 years of marriage, she moved to Asheville, North Carolina.

In her 100 years, Laura lived through the Great Depression, World War ll and the Covid-19 Pandemic. She went from horse and buggy to watching men walk on the moon, and from party lines to cells phones. In her late eighties, she adapted quickly to new technology using computers and social media to keep in touch daily with family and friends.

Laura attended St. Barnabas Catholic Church, was a member of DAR, and an active civic volunteer. As we grieve her absence, we take comfort in recalling the many ways she touched our lives.

Laura is survived by her three daughters, Virginia New (Tom) of Asheville, Janis Laurent (Norm) of Chesterfield, MO and Juanita Calaway (Ronald) of Franklin, TN; five grandchildren, Michael New (Kristin), Laura Taylor (Bryan), Blaire Kulp (Trevor), Katie LanFranca (Tony) and Claire Holleman (Joe) as well as 10 great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at St. Barnabas Catholic Church with Father Adrian Porras officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Churchyard. The family will receive friends at the church Thursday prior to the Mass from 10:15-10:45 AM.

In lieu of flowers, Laura’s family asks that you consider making a contribution in her memory to the American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org), the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (www.nationalmssociety.org) or the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org),

Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.