Nan Marie Harris "Nellie" Ellinger

Nan "Nellie" Marie Harris Ellinger

Lift up your wings and fly, Life's storms are over

Marie Harris Ellinger, 83, formerly of 1137 St. Clair Avenue, Charlottesville, where she lived for 54 years, died 10:25 a.m. Wednesday, September 24, 2008, at the home of her daughter, Marilyn Marie Ellinger, 3428 Martin Kings Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902-7945, from a seizure induced coma. Marie had suffered from Vascular dementia with cranial degeneration since being diagnosed in May of 2007. Her daughter, Marilyn, and Nurse, Shelby Johnson, were by her side when she took her last three breaths, experiencing the natural separation of her spirit from the mortal body.

Born Nan Marie Harris on March 7, 1925, in Scott County, Virginia, on top of Harris Mountain, the fifth of six children born to Robert E. Harris Sr. and Sarah Jane Smith Harris, and she was the last of her immediate family.

Robert E. Harris Sr. and his family left Scott County on a train in December of 1927 and moved to Albemarle County where they lived with Robert's brother, Elbert Harris, and family until settling in Fluvanna County across from Effort Baptist Church, where Marie attended Fluvanna County Schools.

Marie and her younger sister Lula Myrtle learned to play the guitar and they learned how to sing from their Mum. They played on the Radio in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and in Wheeling West Virginia Radio stations during the 1940's. The "Harris Sisters" then joined the "Pete Collier String Band" in 1947. After a car accident on April 12, 1948, the Harris Sisters were not expected to live, Marie suffered a concussion to the left frontal lobe, Myrtle suffered a fractured skull and never recovered conscious-ness, dying on July 9, 1948. Marie awoke from her coma, and tried to make a life out of such a tragic life-changing event.

Marie married a musician, Lyle Emmet Ellinger of Waynesboro, Virginia, in April of 1949. She worked in the weaving room at Woolen Mills in Charlottesville, then, on February 2, 1959, she began her first day with Sperry Rand Corp. later retiring from Sperry Marine in November 1986 after 28 years. She retired from the Dust Free Room, where she worked on the Maines Gyroscope. She loved to garden and work in the yard, listen to music and read. She enjoyed cooking and helping with the many years of holiday meals in Waynesboro she shared with the Ellinger family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lyle Emmett Ellinger of 46 years; four brothers, Virgil Lee Harris, Robert E. Harris Jr., Rock Willard Harris, and John Patton Harris; one sister, Lula Myrtle Harris; sisters-in-law, Clara Eva Ellinger, Helena R. Ellinger, Eleanor D. Harris, and Lola Castle Harris; brother-in law, Andrew Russell Ellinger; one niece, Debbie Carolyn Harris; one nephew, Rock "Rocky" W. Harris Jr.; two cats; Patti dancer and Amiee.

She is survived by her daughter, Marilyn Marie Ellinger; three cats, Babete, Jetta Peach and Dieterkringle; of Charlottesville/Albemarle, three nieces, Helen Harris Breeden and husband, Roger T. Breeden, of Charlottesville, Judy Harris Roberts and her husband, Russell, of Charlottesville; Linda Harris Johnson and her husband, Charles "Chuck" Johnson, of Crewe, Virginia; four nephews, Gene Harris and his wife, Nancy, of Wilmington, North Carolina; Tommy Harris and his wife, Rachael, of Staunton; Glenn Patton Harris of Charlottesville and Aubrey Breeden and his wife, Pam, of Earlysville; three great-nieces, Susan Harris Salguero of Spotsylvania County, Tiffany Lynn Breeden Dettor of Albemarle County, and Piper Harris Roberts Oneto of Frederick, Maryland; three great-nephews, Robert John "Robbie" Harris, of Northern, Virginia, Charles Rock Johnson of Blacksburg, Virginia, and Russell "Skip" Roberts of Charlottesville; two great-great-nephews, Austin Thomas Dettor and Tyler William Dettor of Albemarle County; two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Rock "Florence" B. Harris and Mrs. John P. "Verneice" Penn Harris, both of Charlottesville; and many other distant relatives.

A special love to our Hospice family who made the journey such a loving and meaningful time since November of 2007. Laura Precans, Hospice Nurse, Laura Barnes, Social Worker/ Counselor, Hospice Chaplain Dan Malcolm, Home Health Aids; Patricia M. Johnson, Lois Zimmerman, Hope Patterson, and Margaritte, Pat Soule, Special Hospice Companion Volunteer, and Hospice on call nurse, Amy Stacy, for her compassion and conver-sations over the past three weeks. Special gratitude to Shelby Johnson, CNA Private Duty Nurse of Lake Monticello, who has been a part of Nellie Marie and Marilyn's daily life since May of 2007, providing her skilled nursing care, love, and friendship during this journey.

Also, Dr. Warren Quillian, Maryland, and his entire staff at Pantops Family Medicine for their excellent medical care and concerns for the past six years.

Ann Parrack of Charlottes-ville, a friend for over 60 years, her friendship, Hallmark Cards, the many beautiful silk flower arrangements and pure wisdom of life she has shared and many other friends who came to visit and shared their concerns.

Upon Marie's request there will be no family night, instead a Wake will be held for family and friends to view Marie and understand her life and share their feelings on the following three days; 6 p.m. until midnight Friday, September 26, 2008; from 10 a.m. until midnight, Saturday, September 27, 2008; and from 10 a.m. until midnight Sunday, September 28, 2008, at Marie and Marilyn's home at 3428 Martin Kings Road, Charlottesville, Virginia. A graveside service at Monticello Memory Gardens will be held 3 p.m. Monday, September 29, 2008, with Chaplin Dan Malcolm officiating.

Memorials may be given in Nellie Marie's name to Hospice of the Piedmont, 2200 Old Ivy Road, Suite 200, Charlottesville, VA 22903 or the Fluvanna County SPCA, 5239 Union Mills Road, Troy, VA 22974, flowers also are accepted at the home.


This obituary was originally published in the News Virginian.