OBITUARY: Pat Porter Ely, 80, of Marble Falls dies March 31, 2013
Pat Porter Ely passed from this life to life eternal on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013, in Marble Falls.
She was born May 6, 1932, in Shamrock, Texas, to John Ruskin and Violet Sammons Porter.
Pat graduated from Shamrock High School in May 1950 and, in June, enrolled in what was then North Texas State College in Denton. She graduated in 1953 with a bachelor’s degree in music.
On Dec. 26, 1953, she married Thomas Walter Ely III at First Baptist Church of Shamrock. Pat and Walter lived in Dallas, Austin and Anahuac before settling in El Campo in the late 1950s. Pat taught in public schools in each of those cities. Together, they also owned and operated Ely Furniture Center in El Campo.
In later years, Pat taught at St. Philip Catholic School in El Campo and also played the piano at both First United Methodist Church of El Campo and Louise United Methodist Church. Over the years, she also had many piano and voice students.
Pat is survived by her son, John Walter Ely of Austin; daughter, the Rev. Ellen Lynne Ely and husband Wade Hibler of Marble Falls; sister, Peggy Carr of Amarillo; half-sisters, Kay Ann Smith and husband Mike of Conroe, Karen Kalisek and husband Johnny and Johnnie Landreth and husband Mike, all of Escondido, Calif.; nephew Conrad Carr and wife Debbie of Helotes; niece Camille Carr Rea of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; granddaughter, Hailey Ann Hibler of Lubbock; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation is 6-8 p.m. April 2 at Clements-Wilcox Funeral Home, 1805 U.S. 281 North in Marble Falls. A graveside service is 2 p.m. April 4 at Shamrock City Cemetery. A memorial service is 2 p.m. April 8 at First United Methodist Church of Marble Falls.
In lieu of the usual remembrances, the family requests memorial gifts be made to Parkinson’s research, United Methodist Committee on Relief (www.umcor.org) or any United Methodist Church.
The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Garden Villa Health Center, Granite Mesa Health Center, Dr. Erica Hughes, Dr. William Fleming and her loving caregivers while in her home in El Campo. Thanks be to God for the life of Pat Porter Ely!
Condolences may be offered at www.clementswilcoxfuneralhome.