Ellena Western of Greentop died Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at Boone Hospital in Columbia, MO. She was born April 2, 1922. Until her death, she lived in the same home she shared with her late husband Donald Western. She was always quick to invite friends and family for a meal. And she taught numerous young would-be cooks how to make “lard pastry dough,” yeast breads, applesauce cakes and much more.
Her table turned into a true “groaning board” during family dinners when the house filled up with kids, grandkids and great grandkids. In her later years when there were sometimes more than 20 people for holidays “it made her a little tired.”
Ellena was born to Harry Scott and Edith Gardner. She is the third of five living children whose mother died when they were all very young: Ellena was only nine. Harry, unable to care for so many small children asked relatives for help. As such, these children were raised more like cousins than siblings. Ellena and her baby sister, Leanna Crow (d. 1998) went to live with their maternal aunt Edna Sloop of Queen City. Two brothers, the late Charles and Lando were raised by a paternal uncle Jasper Scott of rural Kirksville. Yet another paternal uncle, Martin Scott of rural Greentop, raised the baby, the late Harry Jr.
To hear stories of how she grew up, married and started a family is to take a trip back to those good/bad ole days when roads were muddy all the time, folks worked hard in the soil from sun up to sun down, and kids were grateful for food on the table, warm fires in the stove and getting to go to church twice on Sunday and once on Wednesday night.
It is told that when Ellena and Donald got married, they both brought something of value to the marriage: He brought a kerosene lamp and a soon-to-foal Percheron mare; she brought a hand-made quilt and a cooking pot.
Years of milking cows, row cropping and making vegetable gardens eventually brought some degree of success and three children: Jane, Michael, and the late Joe. Later, Ellena took a job in town. She was for years the able waitress at Elaine’s Dining Room. Then weddings, grandchildren, funerals.
What was so amazing about this woman of good cheer is that as she became legally blind, she could still find her way around her kitchen mostly by feel. She couldn’t see to play Bingo anymore, but until the end she see well enough under an architect’s light to play two hands of Pitch. And she almost always won.
Ellena is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Dolly Western of Greentop, MO; one daughter Jane Maulfair of Emmaus, PA; daughter-in-law, Lola Western of Greentop, MO; five grandchildren, Amanda Maulfair, Shane (Shelly) Western, Jodi (Bobby) Crawford, Shawna (Chad) Hudson, and Conrad "Jery" (Jenny) Maulfair, as well as 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Donald James Western; one son, Terry "Joe" Western, and grandson, Michael Maulfair.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 25, 2017 at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, with Pastor John Davison officiating. Family will receive friends for one hour before the service. Music selections "How Great Thou Art" and "In The Garden" will be provided by Tim and Felicia Scott. Interment will follow the service at Greentop Cemetery in Greentop.
Pallbearers will be Shane Western, Bobby Crawford, Chad Hudson, Bodie Western, Gunner Western and Pearce Crawford. Honorary pallbearers will be Dick Scott, Ed Scott, Sam Western, Tom Western and Mike Sulwer.
Memorial donations may be made to Kirksville V.F.W. or to the Greentop Methodist Church. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.