Lorraine Lee Miller Judd, a beloved and active member of the Eastern Sierra community with a life spanning 91 years, passed away in 2026. A celebration of her life is scheduled for Tuesday, October 13, at 2:00 PM at Calvary Baptist Church. Known affectionately as Lori, she spent her life deeply connected to the region, from her childhood summers at Lundy Lake Resort to her later years in Bishop, touching many lives with her engaging spirit and generous nature.
Born on June 30, 1935, to Carl Frank and Ellen Marie (Dombrowski) Miller, Lori’s formative years were split between the scenic Lundy Lake Resort during summers and the community of Lee Vining in winters. During this time, she cultivated a strong work ethic at her family’s resort, undertaking tasks such as painting boats, cleaning cabins, and clerking in the store, which helped her develop valuable people skills. She was an avid fisherman and enjoyed hiking and exploring the old mining town of Lundy. Her education began uniquely at the old Mono Lake Schoolhouse, now a museum, where she was the sole first-grader among only four other children covering grades one through eight. Lori later graduated from Lee Vining High School as one of just two students in her class.
In 1953, Lori moved to Bishop, where she would raise her four children: Mike, Debbie, Rick, and Lynda. The family embraced the diverse activities available in the area, which they referred to as “God’s Country.” Her first marriage, to Sam Dean, concluded in 1979. Lori later married Ted Judd, embarking on many happy years together. During this period, they enjoyed RV traveling, square dancing, fishing, and boating while residing in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. The couple returned home to Bishop in 2005. Lori faced significant personal losses in subsequent years; Ted passed away from Alzheimer’s in 2007, and her son Rick succumbed to cancer in 2008. In January 2017, Lori married Walter Piest, and they shared five years of companionship before Walter’s passing in 2022.
Throughout her life, Lori remained an active and contributing member of her community. She volunteered her time at the Laws Railroad Museum and pursued her passion for artwork. A dedicated member of Calvary Baptist Church, she actively participated in church activities and embraced her “church family.” Lori was described as having an engaging spirit and being “generous to a fault,” with a smile that brightened any room and the hearts of all who knew and loved her. Her children lovingly described her as "the best Mommie in the Whole Wide World."
Lori is survived by her children, Mike & Marydawn Dean, Debbie Hayward, and Lynda Dean. She also leaves behind her sister Leslie Rosaschi and brother Jim Miller, along with sister-in-law Vici Miller. Her extended family includes stepdaughter Janie Judd Vawter, stepson Gary Judd, and stepdaughters Cheryl Sigler, Cindy Munger, and Sandy Hulit. Lori was a proud grandmother to eight grandchildren and a great-grandmother to fifteen great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl Frank and Ellen Marie Miller; her husbands, Ted Judd and Walter Piest; her son Rick Dean; her brothers, Bud Miller and Dick Miller; her son-in-law, Steve Hayward; and her stepdaughters, Judy Miliauskas and Diane Scronce.
The celebration of life service will provide an opportunity for friends and family to honor Lori's memory and her profound impact on the Eastern Sierra community. All who knew her are invited to attend the service at Calvary Baptist Church on Tuesday, October 13, at 2:00 PM.
