Lillian was born in Sams Valley OR to Adolph and Loretta Meissner, the ninth of eleven children. They moved to Pullman WA in 1905, where they continued farming. Loretta became deathly ill in her stomach and was miraculously healed through the prayers of her Church of God friends. Lillian remembers her getting up to get dinner after being so ill. The family went to Texas by wagon, then to Mexico and Panama farming. She had fond memories of her times growing up there, swinging on the vines, learning Spanish, and exploring. She completed the 8th grade. She remembered the boat ride to Panama: Edith was seasick the whole time; Lillian was fine. In Panama, Adolph and Loretta offered land to the Church of God for missions and when the offer was passed on, Loretta took it hard and became depressed so they returned home to Upland in 1921.

Lillian worked in downtown Los Angeles at the peak of the silent movie era. She took the streetcar to work, and it was at Clifton's restaurant where she was a waitress that she met Earl Kellogg. They were soon a pair and had marriage planned for July 1924. This happy anticipation was interrupted by the death of mother Loretta. Most of the family attended the funeral at Forest Lawn, Glendale, in June. She and Earl married July 14, 1924. A year later they moved with baby Eleanor, to Jackson County, Michigan, to live near Earl's parents. They farmed and Earl painted houses. They settled into a happy life of raising their family to which Ronald, Geneva, Paul, Marjorie, twins Virginia and Barbara, and Elaine were added. The first four were born in hospitals and the last four were born at home. Sixteen years separate Eleanor and Elaine.

Lillian was a strong woman with lots of stamina. She would chop wood, wash clothes in the basin, churn, dress chickens, cook, and sew until after midnight. Everyone was healthy except that Eleanor and Paul had a mild case of polio, and Barbara had a mastoid operation. Lillian took the train in 1940 to Southern California to see her family, with four-year-old Marjorie and two-year-old twins. What a handful! Her gorgeous children grew up and Ronald and Paul joined the service, with Ronald seeing action in the Philippines.

In 1956, after Earl's mom died, Lillian and Earl with the four youngest girls decided to move to California instead of getting indoor plumbing. They moved to San Bernardino and Lillian's brother Adolph helped them build a house at 1520 West Baseline. It was here that they settled in to their wonderful role of being grandparents. This was the time when memories were made, for the grandchildren were coming regularly. Almost everyone lived within a 100 mile radius. One of Lillian and Earl's favorite outings was a picnic in the desert, in the sand with not a green thing in sight. They loved Salton Sea.

They celebrated their 50th anniversary on July 14, 1975. All their children and most of their grandchildren were present. A year later, Earl became sick and he died in 1976. Lillian continued to thrive, overseeing her children and pampering her grandchildren. So many meals she prepared for them. Strangely, at the twilight of her life, she had no more family left in San Bernardino. She stayed strong and healthy, mowing the lawn and gardening at age 85. At age 86, during the night, she had a mild heart attack and stroke. She then moved up to Willows to live with Eleanor and Jimmy for a year. She died October 7, 1991 of old age. We all miss her.