Ila Houghton

May 29, 1919 – September 28, 2022

Life-long Millicent district resident Ila Houghton was born on May 29, 1919 – the seventh of eight children – four girls and four boys – to Ellen and Tedda Gray.

She attended the old Millicent Primary School and after finishing school, Ila worked on her parent’s dairy farm, Clarence Rise, near Millicent.

The four Gray sisters Mara, Jean, Ila and Betty would all milk the cows in an era when milking was done by hand and every day they would take the milk to the butter factory on Mount Gambier Road in a buckboard.

Each of the girls also had other jobs in the household, from gardening to cooking and housekeeping which is no doubt where Ila learnt her many skills.

On December 27, 1941, Ila married Merv Houghton, a timber mill employee and a descendant of the well-known and large Bowering family of Rocky Camp.

After their marriage, they lived for a short time at Rocky Camp while they waited for a house to be built at the then new township of Mount Burr which was to become their home for 30 years.

In 1943 their one and only child, Merrilyn, was born and as they were not blessed with more children, they poured their love not only into Merrilyn but also the children of their brothers and sisters and then later their children and grandchildren.

Merrilyn died in 2021.

The Houghtons became a big part of the Mount Burr community.

Merv worked at the timber mill while Ila ran the bakery shop in Mount Burr owned by the MacLennan family of Mac’s Bakery fame.

In Mount Burr, Ila was very involved in many community organisations.

She was a founding member of the Mount Burr CWA, a member of the Ladies RSL Auxiliary, a great supporter of St Bede’s Anglican Church and its Ladies Guild and Mothers Union group.

She was also a member of the Mount Burr School’s Welfare Club and, whenever there was a shortage of accommodation for single teachers, the Houghton family always found room for them in their home.

The Houghtons moved to Millicent in 1971 and Ila worked at MacLennan’s bakery in this town while Merv would travel out to work at the Mount Burr mill every day.

Ila’s world was turned upside down when Merv died suddenly in 1992.

They had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary the previous year and it was a marriage that was based on mutual respect and love.

Ila then spent 30 years as a widow and she instead poured her love into the children around her including her only granddaughter Melissa Armfield.

Ila’s contribution to the community was recognised around 20 years ago by Wattle Range Council when she was named as its Senior of the Year.

The closing period of her 103 years of life were spent at Boneham Aged Care Services in Millicent.

Melissa Armfield delivered the eulogy for the grandmother she called “Nanny” at her funeral service held at a packed St Michael and All Angels Anglican Church in Millicent.

“Our weekends were spent cooking, sewing and knitting with Nanny and gardening and tinkering in Pa’s shed,” Melissa said.

“On Sunday mornings Nanny and I would go to this very church, a church she was very fond of.

“Nanny was a fantastic dressmaker – making ball gowns, wedding and bridesmaid dresses – along with clothes for nieces and nephews.

“We cannot remember Nanny without mentioning her knitting.

“Many a baby, not only within the family but also in the wider community, was dressed in Nanny’s jackets and booties in her signature feather and fan design.

“Nanny’s heart over-flowed with love for her three great grandchildren.”

She said Tori, Connor and Hugh were three very blessed people as they spent many hours with their Mama, learning how to cook, garden and hearing stories of the past.

“Cooking for the annual Anglican Church fete was always a huge undertaking with Christmas cakes and puddings ordered well before the fete,” Melissa said.

“My first grandchild – Nanny’s great great grandchild – to Tori and Tom – is due later this year and Nanny even planned for this event knitting baby clothes.

“Nanny loved people unconditionally.

“Her love, caring and compassion for family and friends was boundless.

“Nanny was the glue that held her family and extended family together and nieces or nephews always looked forward to visiting Auntie Ila when they came home to Millicent.”

Ila’s funeral service was conducted by Millicent/Penola Anglican parish priest Father Lyndon Sulzberger and she was afterwards laid to rest at the Millicent Lawn Cemetery.