Ellamae "Ella" R. DeWeese

Ellamae “Ella” Rose DeWeese, 78, of Kearney, passed away March 22, at Kearney Regional Medical Center. Ella was born onOctober 29, 1947, in Bassett to Elmer and Augusta (Wheeler) Mizner. Ella’s dad worked for Mr. Teleen so she and her nine siblings were raised on a farm north of Ainsworth and walked to District 11 Grade School eachday. Mr. Teleen had a nickname for each childand Ella was known as “Little Girl!” She wenton to attend Ainsworth High School duringwhich time at the age of 16 she moved out onher own and became self-supporting withwork at the local nursing home. Shegraduated from Ainsworth High School in 1965. During those years,she attended and was baptized in the Ainsworth Nazarene Church. Ella married Lonnie DeWeese on June 10, 1967. With her husbandbeing in the military, this union took them to Germany, where her sonBuddy was born in Nuremburg on July 2, 1968. After one year in Germany, they returned to the United States and settled in Kearney, where her son Monte was born on March 2, 1971. Ella and Lonnie divorced in 1985.

Ella worked for Kearney Laundry followed by a 37-year career with Kmart in Kearney, during which time she became the assistantmanager. Her “retirement” found her becoming the Personal Assistantand Business Manager for Sherry Morrow which she did until the timeof her death. During this time, she helped with Entertainment Plus which involved managing casino parties and antique shows. Ella was someone you could always count on-hardworking, dependable, andsteady through everything.

Ella and her significant other, Tom McCoy, shared 40 wonderfulyears together. She loved Husker volleyball, she and Tom were avidUNK sports fans, and they loved to travel both in the United States andabroad. In recent years, they spent many enjoyable hours discoveringthe many stops on the Nebraska Passport Program. They belonged toa select few who completed their passports! Parachuting out of aplane and zip lining were other activities that Ella conquered! She also enjoyed collecting miniature shoes which she looked for as she traversed the Nebraska Junk Jaunt every fall. Because of this, she wasfondly called “The Shoe Grandma” by her great grand daughters! Her friends and family will also never look at Diet Coke, Tootsie Rolls or Rice Krispie bars without thinking of Ella and smiling!

Although she guarded herself with a tough exterior, Ella was a verygiving, caring person with a tender heart. She was always willing tohelp others, being sensitive to their feelings. This was evidenced byher coordinating family events, and by using Facebook on her phoneto inform everyone of the latest news! She served as the volunteerfinancial coordinator for the Kearney Rescue Cats and was the womanbehind the success with their ongoing shoe fundraiser…sortingthousands of pairs of shoes! Her cat Sunshine - who she first fosteredand quickly made her own - misses her dearly. Over the years she wasalso active in the Eagles Auxiliary and the Legion Auxiliary.

Those left to cherish her memory are her significant other TomMcCoy; daughters-in-law Martha DeWeese and Kelly DeWeese;grandchildren Cory DeWeese, Greg (Brittany) DeWeese and ChrisDeWeese; great grandchildren Wyatt DeWeese, Daniel Nixon, LyndsieDeWeese, Liam DeWeese, Collette DeWeese, Hallie DeWeese, AveryDeWeese, Margot Dimond, McKinley DeWeese and Delainey DeWeese;siblings, Edwin Mizner, George (Gwen) Mizner, Shirley McDonald,Arvilla (Mel) Self, Cindy Hissong and David Mizner; sisters-in-law JoMizner and Marsha Mizner; brother-in-law Maurice Boller; and manynieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Elmer and Augusta Mizner;brothers Earl and Michael; sister Phyllis Boller; and sons BuddyDeWeese and Monte Deweese.

McCoyand Joseph (Christie) McCoy; Tom’s grandchildren Griffin McCoy,Logan McCoy, Mia McCoy and Cole McCoy; Tom’s sisters Jenny(Lance) Krajewski, Karin (Jeffery) Armstrong, Beverly (Daniel) Lukensand Lori Powell; Tom’s brothers Gary McCoy and Martin Evvard;Tom’s sisters-in-law Joanne Evvard and Carol McCoy. She waspreceded in death by Tom’s brothers John Evvard and David McCoy;and Tom’s sister Kay Althoff.

Ella’s strength, big heart and strong work ethic will be remembered byeveryone who knew her! She will be deeply missed.