Mary Ellisor

Mary Evelyn Ellisor died Saturday, April 28, 2012, in Mancos, Colo. She was 94.

Mrs. Ellisor was born July 27, 1917, in Brantley, Ala., the daughter of Marshall and Ida Hart. She lived in Albuquerque, N.M., from March 1993 to September 2000, then she moved to Durango to live with her daughter. She lived in Durango from October 2000 to May 2008. Before that she lived in Mobile, Ala.

She graduated from Dozier High School in Brantley, and later graduated from business school in Montgomery, Ala. She was married July 5, 1938 in Alabama to Thomas M. Ellisor. The marriage ended in divorce 38 years later.

She was a devoted Civil Service Employee for nearly 30 years as an administrative assistant to executive officers, and she received numerous performance awards for exceptional service at Fort Rucker, Ala., from 1954 to 1957, and at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile, Ala., from 1957 to 1982.

The church was the center of her life. She was a member of the Springhill Avenue United Methodist Church in Mobile, Ala., for 35 years -- from 1957 to 1993. She was very active in many social services with the United Methodist Women's organization. While living in Albuquerque, N.M., she was active in the Hoffmantown Church. When she moved to Durango in 2000, she became a member of the First United Methodist Church of Durango and contributed to the annual bazaar through the Crafty Ladies.

Mrs. Ellisor took her strong spiritual life and expressed it through her five favorites: Faith, Family, Friends, Food and Fishing. She has been the example and teacher of love and service showing us the Way. Being a true "lady" from the Deep South, she was known far and wide for her "soul food" -- seafood gumbo, hushpuppies, fried chicken, catfish, and peach cobbler. Her favorite hobby was traveling to the far corners of this world.

She entertained her family and friends with her sweet Southern drawl: "give me some sugar!" Some of the grandkids affectionately called her "Nana banana." Her church family in Mobile knew her as the "gumbo queen" for her many years of cooking her special recipe for their annual church bazaar. It wasn't until her later years that she discovered the hidden pleasures of white zinfandel wine.

She is survived by son David F. Ellisor and wife Patti of Durango, daughter Rebecca Ellisor Nash and husband John of Durango, son Charles M. Ellisor and wife Candi of Foley, Ala., six grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Cremation has occurred, and a celebration of life is planned. The date and place will be announced at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Montezuma, P.O. Drawer 740, Cortez, CO 81321.