Velva M (Thomas) Ely

Velva M (Thomas) Ely

March 17, 1936 - Grady, Oklahoma
April 16, 2004 - Redmond

'Nanny'

married December 8, 1970 to Fayne Ely

Velva M. Ely of Redmond died April 16, 2004. She was 68.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, April 22, at Terrebonne Pioneer Cemetery.

Mrs. Ely was born March 17, 1936, in Grady County, Oklahoma, to Samuel and Zenobia (Jervis) Thomas. She was raised and educated in Grady County and married Fayne Ely in 1970 in Vancouver, Wash.

Mrs. Ely moved to Portland in 1959 and then to Terrebonne in 1984. She moved to Prineville in 1990 and settled in Redmond in 1994.

She worked for Montgomery Ward and at J.C. Penny in Portland and later owned a Ward's catalog store in Redmond. From 1989 to 1994 she owned Fashions Crossroads in Prineville.

Mrs. Ely was a member of Gethsemene Lutheran Church in Portland, Campfire and PTA. She also volunteered in schools and for Air Life. She was an avid card player and enjoyed reading, knitting, gardening, camping, hunting and fishing.

Her survivors include:

Husband, Fayne of Redmond

Sons, Steve of Portland, Jeff of Atlanta, Georgia, and Richard of Phoenix, Arizona

Daughters, Carolyn Willett of Duvall, Washington, Marilyn Morris of Redmond and Sherilyn Fisher of Portland

Sisters, Billye VanSchuyver of Chicksha, Oklahoma, Sue Ann Arnold and Phyllis Robinson, both of Oklahoma City, Shirley Beaver of Bakersfield, California

14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and a sister.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Redmond, Sisters and Grant County or Air Life. Autumn Funerals is in charge of arrangements.