Some people leave their mark on a community through accomplishments. Others do it through kindness, faith, and the simple way they treat their neighbors every day. For generations of West Liberty residents, Lois Miller has done all of those things.

When the West Liberty Lions Club selected the 94-year-old as the 2026 Labor Day Parade grand marshal, the honor caught her completely off guard.

"It took me totally by surprise, which brought me to tears and smiles," Lois said. "I was so honored to think they would even consider me."

Those who know Lois would say it is impossible to imagine anyone more deserving.

Born in rural Bellefontaine in 1931, Lois grew up during the Great Depression on her family's farm. She attended school in Lewistown before marrying Donald "Don" Miller and moving to West Liberty in 1949.

Together, they built a life grounded in hard work, family, faith and service to others.

The Millers raised two sons, Wes and Russell, while farming and becoming deeply woven into the fabric of the community. For many local residents, though, the Miller name will forever be connected to one of West Liberty's most beloved businesses: the Tastee Freeze, along Zanesfield Road (U.S. Route 68).

For 19 years, Lois and Don welcomed customers through its doors and served far more than food. On summer evenings, the little restaurant became a gathering place where families celebrated baseball victories, teenagers met for first dates, and children pressed their noses against the counter while deciding which frozen treat to order.

The Tastee Freeze was a place where memories were made. Residents still talk about the famous barbecue sandwiches, legendary coney dogs and chocolate-dipped ice cream treats.

Many fondly remember the M&M Chocolate Freezies that seemed to taste even better after a long day of work outside or an evening ballgame.

Lois smiles when she recalls the stories that came with owning the restaurant.

There was the loose dog that wandered into town, accepted an ice cream cone from the Tastee Freeze crew, then promptly carried it to a nearby dirt pile and buried it.

There were wedding processions that made their celebratory loops through town, blaring their horns as they drove around their building.

The parade grand marshal also recalled the heartwarming story of a young boy recovering from a terrible tractor accident whose first big goal was simply to walk all the way to the Tastee Freeze. The day he finally made it there became a celebration for everyone.

Those moments, Lois remembers, made the business special.

Thankfully, the Millers never saw the Tastee Freeze as merely a way to earn a living. It was a way to serve their town because the kindness that made the Tastee Freeze so beloved was simply an extension of the kindness that characterized Lois's entire life.