Ellen Gilchrist Carl

Ellen Gilchrist Carl, age 86 of Albia, passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2015, at the Monroe Care Center in Albia. Ellen was born November 8, 1928, to Elmer and Maude (Hoskins) Gilchrist in Barnes City. She married Charles Maddy on September 7, 1949. To this union, three children were born, Becky, Paul and Jeff. They later divorced and Ellen married Harlan Carl on July 31, 1975. Ellen graduated from Rose Hill High School and obtained her R.N. degree at Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in Des Moines in 1949. She worked for Dr. Orelup in Albia for many years, retiring in 1988. She later went to work as a Physician's Assistant at Chariton Valley Medical Clinic in Centerville before retiring in 2011. Ellen was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Albia. She was a generous, intelligent, and influential woman. She was one of the founding members of Hospice of Monroe County and volunteered at the Helping Hands. She was named Xi Epsilon of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority Woman of the Year. Ellen was very active and loved being outdoors, doing things such as gardening. Most of all, Ellen enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, especially her grandchildren. She was an avid knitter and passed this along to her daughter and granddaughters. She is survived by her children, Becky (John) Harker of Ames; Paul (Jackie) Maddy of Albia and Jeff (Gail) Maddy of Albia; nine grandchildren, Shannon, Mark, Brian, Amy, Eric, and Jesse Maddy and Matt, Brooke, and Katie Harker; and eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, four sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Maude; her husband, Harlan; a grandson, John Paul Maddy; five brothers, Dean, George, Don, Bob, and John Gilchrist; and four sisters, Marjorie Bussey, Frances Kennedy, Joan Dvorak, and Mary Freeman. Memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 24, 2015 at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Albia, with Pastor Neil Montz officiating. Burial will follow services at the Oak View Cemetery in Albia. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Ellen's family present throughout. A memorial has been established to Trinity United Methodist Church.

Ellen Gilchrist Carl

November 8, 1928 - June 20, 2015