(Photo courtesy Town of Normal)

By Eric Stock

NORMAL - A former four-time Normal town councilwoman who had a heart for public service has died.

Lucille Miller, 87, died on Wednesday at Heritage Manor in Normal. City Manager Mark Peterson said Miller served the public not for any political aspirations, Peterson said she simply wanted to make the community a better place.

"No matter what your concern was, you generally had a sympathetic, willing ear in Lucille Miller. She was all about constituent service," Peterson said. "She was kind-hearted and very well intentioned. She was there to serve and she did that well."

Normal Town Councilwoman Cheryl Gaines remembered Miller for being a liason between the town and Illinois State University.

"She forged these relationships with folks there who were students and worked on issues and problems and did a lot of problem-solving," she said.

Gaines also said Miller was willing to see all sides of an issue.

"She might not agree with things at first, but when she got all the information and saw the other side, she might change her mind and agree or she would just decide that that's not what she agreed with," she said.

Miller served on the town council from 1985 to 2001, when she was defeated by Chris Koos who became mayor in 2003.

Among Miller's achievements on the town council was fostering the creation of Constitution Trail.

Miller's funeral is at 10 a.m. Saturday at Calvary Baptist Church in Normal.

Miller's family has requested memorial contributions be made to Calvary Baptist Church or the Kenney Civic League.

Lucille is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Miller, who was murdered in April 2002 outside the former Eagle grocery store in Normal.

Eric Stock can be reached at eric.stock@cumulus.com.