Elizabeth Anne (Stogner) Mueller – 42 – of Hampton, Virginia, passed away on July 31, 2009 with her loving husband Tom by her side.
Also left to cherish her memory are her parents – William & Anne (Smethers) Stogner of Decatur, IL. Her sister – Claire Stogner of Charleston, SC. Her brothers – Michael Stogner & his wife Kimberly of Decatur, IL. Joseph Stogner of Hampton, VA. Steven Stogner of Decatur, IL. Her maternal grandfather – Clarence Smethers of Decatur, IL. Her mother-in-law – Joyce Lanxon of Iowa City, IA. Her sweet, little angels – Megan & Coco.
Elizabeth was born on April 12, 1967 in Decatur, Illinois.
She is a 1985 graduate of Stephen Decatur High School where she lettered in tennis all 4 years. She then went on to pursue a degree in retail merchandising at Eastern Illinois University. An internship with the Navy Exchange prompted a move to Norfolk, VA. Who knew that move would be the first of many to come? Not to mention the most important of her life.
She captured the heart of a soldier named Thomas Mueller. It was love at first sight! They married 17 days later & remained devoted to each other for more than 18 years.
Tom’s military career would take them from Virginia, to Texas, back to Virginia, to North Carolina and finally back to Virginia where they made their home for the past 10 years.
Eli’s career was as diverse as their duty stations. After her internship with the Navy Exchange she was the accounts receivables manager for Sam’s Club in Texas. She managed the Exchange on the Coast Guard Station in Virginia. In North Carolina she worked for Purolator Credit Union. Her most recent position was with Tidewater Telephone Employees Credit Union in Virginia as the Hampton branch coordinator.
Eli’s compassion & generosity was apparent in everything she did. She had a deep love of anything having to do with animals. This is evident in the tales of how she acquired her beloved “children”.
First there was Booker! Eli spotted a little black puppy on the side of the freeway. She crossed several lanes of traffic, pulled across the grassy median, drove down the freeway to where she had seen the puppy, crossed the grassy median again, drove across the same several lanes of traffic to the shoulder where the little, black puppy sat, just waiting for Eli to rescue her. They were the best of friends!
Next came Megan! Eli heard a noise in a dumpster. Inside she found a days old Pomeranian puppy. Unfortunately, the puppy’s littermate wasn’t as fortunate. Eli bottle fed that scrawny, little puppy every two hours, day in & day out for weeks on end. She even took Megan to work with her every day & kept her under her teller station. They became inseparable!
Eli enrolled Megan in the service dog program & they became a volunteer team of “Cheer & Happiness” to all the kids they visited on the cancer ward at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughter.
Eli – if you ever had the pleasure of meeting her you were immediately enchanted by her warmth & kindness. You knew you were encountering a very special lady! One you’d never be able to ever forget! One couldn’t help but to be touched by the care & attention Eli gave to everyone – from her many credit union members to the girlfriends she hosted slumber parties for. She was one of a kind! She will be missed!