Mildred “Millie” Evelyn Lepley (Taylor) passed away peacefully at 96 years old with family by her side on December 6, 2025. “Millie” was born on August 10, 1929, to Sidney and Elinor Taylor in Cleveland, OH. She grew up in S. Euclid, OH where she attended and graduated from Brush
High School. During her high school years, Millie pursued a love of music playing the clarinet in the high school marching band and playing oboe with the Cleveland Women’s Orchestra, the oldest women’s orchestra in the country. She then went on to continue her studies in music at “Yale of the West,” Miami University of Ohio. While attending college she played oboe in the marching band and was an active member of the Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity. After graduating in 1951 with a Bachelor of Music, she became an instrumental music and home economics teacher for K – 12. Her first position was at Howard School, now E. Knox High School which shared her talents with K – 12 Amity and Bladensburg schools. It was during this time, Millie met her future husband, Donald M. Lepley who was a former graduate of Howard School. The couple was married on June 10, 1954, in Don’s minister’s garden surrounded by roses, Millie’s favorite flower. They were fond of saying an extravagant wedding is not a guaranteed predictor of a successful marriage. She was a devoted wife and mother of three. Without complaint, she supported Don’s fast-paced career of promotions in the banking business which required frequent moves around California. They remained happily married for 71 years and prompted Don to say, “We’re still working on it,” up until Millie’s passing. They would also tell you; it was humor that kept them together. Millie had a goofy sense of humor, which earned her the nickname “silly Millie.” Once, she had feathers stuck in the kitchen garden outside the door and when asked she said, “I’m growing a bird!!”
Adventure and fun could be said to be Millie’s middle name! Though a serious musician, she loved outdoor sports such as canoeing, sailing, whitewater rafting, waterskiing, swimming, snorkeling, camping, and even took flying lessons until her solo flight ended in her becoming disoriented, needing to be talked down from the sky by the control tower. She never flew again, even Millie had SOME limits!! She really enjoyed taking drives anywhere on a road less travelled. One summer while Don was in Virginia attending the Graduate School of Consumer Banking at the University of Virginia at Charlotte, she packed a pickup camper with their three kids and dog to explore the California Gold Country. She was fascinated with the Gold Rush period of California history. When they came to a fork in the road everyone got a vote which way to go. On one of these roads, which turned to gravel, they came upon an old gold mine, still occupied by an old miner. Fearless to a fault, Millie knocked on the shack near the mine shaft and asked for a tour!! She never met a stranger and won over the suspicious octogenarian in a few moments who then welcomed them to his “stake.” Not only did the family get a short tour of the mine, but they also sat for an hour or two drinking iced tea and listening to stories of how the old man had made a living mining gold long after the Gold Rush was a distant memory.
There are too many stories to recount of the adventures Millie got into as well as the many acts of kindness she quietly performed for others. She loved her family and was honored to be a mother. She was also curious, interested in everyone and had a great capacity for love of all of humanity. She taught her children to be respectful of the environment and grateful for the beauty of nature; the appreciation of difference; to be kind even in the face of rudeness; to be understanding of other’s difficulties and challenges; and to always remain positive. Her generosity and willingness to help had no parallel.
Millie will be greatly missed by anyone who had occasion to know her. Remember to always look for the good in others, remain positive, optimistic, kind, and laugh often. She would love that!
Millie is survived by her husband, Donald Lepley of Kansas City, MO; her children, Chris (Richard) Duran, of Merced, CA; Mark Lepley of Kansas City, MO; Valerie (Gordon) Miller of Conception Junction, MO; her grandchildren, Elizabeth (Kirk) Diamantine Bolduc; Martha (Martin) Lau of Colorado Springs, CO; Napalm (Mage) Rowan of Omaha, NE; Monica Kohlleppel of Conception Junction, MO; Charles (Nellie) Miller of Savannah, MO; Tamar (Yosef) Flamer of Brooklyn, NY; Joanna (Alex) Clabaugh of Lee Summit, MO; Annarose Lepley of Ft. Worth, TX; Noah Lepley of Dewey, OK; her great grandchildren, Brooke Bolduc; Walter and Mikey Kohlleppel; Menachem Moshe; and Theoden Miller.
A graveside funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2025 – 11:00 AM in Bethel Cemetery. The Snyder Funeral Home – Lasater Chapel is handling the arrangements for the Lepley family.
To express a condolence to the family, please visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com
Funeral Home: Snyder Funeral Home – Lasater Chapel
Website: www.snyderfuneralhomes.com