Mila Jean Raper

Mila attended Indiana State University and the University of South Florida; where she earned a teaching degree in elementary education. She taught in the Lee County Florida school system for her entire career; primarily teaching kindergarten, first and second grades. She had a wonderful career and often spoke about the enjoyment she had teaching young children. She spoke of the honor of being able to teach the children of those she had taught earlier and who had grown up and had children of their own. Mila always thought of those children and considered them as her “little ones”. She absolutely loved teaching and was a consummate professional.

Mila enjoyed walking the beaches of south Florida and searching for the perfect seashell. For her, it was the search for the shell that was the most important thing. As in life, she really enjoyed the journey. She loved the outdoors and was an avid snow skier. She was often the skiing partner of her brother on many trips to the ski slopes in the Northeast, upper Midwest and the Rocky Mountains. She referred to these trips as being some of the most pleasant times of her life.

She was loving, selfless and seldom had a harsh word to say about anyone else. She was a remarkable woman and will be dearly missed by anyone who was fortunate enough to know her.

Mila was predeceased in death by her father Arnold Jack Raper, her mother Anna Ruth Raper, her brother Jack Dennis Raper, and her sister Lea Ann Raper. She has an older brother Timothy Drew Raper who survives her.

A Celebration of Life Service will be scheduled at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association through their website; mda.org.