Charlene Ellison

CHARLENE ELLISON

Morley

Charlene Ellison, 80, died Tuesday, April 12, 2016, at her home near Morley surrounded by her family. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 15, at Goettsch Funeral Home in Anamosa. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Interment will be at Green Center Cemetery, rural Morley. The Rev. Pat Slater will officiate at the services. Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

Surviving are six children, Angie Harms, Julie (Donald) Paulsen and Anita (Keith) Fuhrmeister, all of Olin, William (Barb) Martin of Colorado, Jeanette (Jeff) Kleinmeyers of North Liberty and Shane (Heather) Ellison of Morley; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; many stepgrandchildren; two sisters, Frances Appleby and Lisa Tallman, both of Anamosa; and her brother, Wilbur Tallman of Oxford Junction.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two sisters, Shirley Grassfield and Nancy Tallman.

Charlene Grace Holdren was born May 31, 1935, in Iowa City, Iowa. She was the daughter of Glen and Clara Clark Holdren. Charlene graduated from Morley High School in 1954. She was always proud of being part of the class that went to the girls' state basketball tournament and her first-place finish in the state solo vocal contest.

Charlene married Edwin Haskin in February 1956. He died of a heart condition in November 1958. Charlene married William Martin in 1959. They later divorced. Charlene and Don Ellison married on Oct. 28, 1972. Over the years, Charlene worked at Collins Radio and the children's home in Cedar Rapids in the early years of her working career. She was a CNA at the Anamosa Care Center and did in-home health care as well until she retired in 2006. Don preceded her in death on July 23, 2013. One of her many joys in life was music, especially singing and playing for her friends and family.