Marlene Helen Ellerington

During her childhood in the Philippines, WW2 brought much terror, starvation, and destruction, as she along with her family experienced three years of Japanese occupation and the bombing of Manila, until being rescued by the Americans.

On April 10th, a Red Cross ship set sail from the Philippines with Marlene, her mother (Helen), brother (Bobby), and sister (Dorothy). It was 6 days past her 12th birthday. Three weeks later she would arrive in the San Pedro California Port on May 2nd, 1945, to begin her new life. And whether at that point she knew it or not, the hardships she faced leading up to that voyage would shape who she’d become and would have an immeasurable, positive impact on 3 generations of family who to this day are in awe of her generosity and humility.

Marlene accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at a Billy Graham revival in Portland, Oregon and later moved to Los Angeles where she enrolled in a two-year associate’s program at Biola (Bible Institute of Los Angeles).

In 1951, as a freshmen, Marlene and Harold met on Catalina Island during a Bible Camp sponsored by Biola. The two fell in love and were married on August 26, 1955, in Hawthorne, California. After their marriage, they spent a year in Cuba working for Practical Missionary Training. During that period, Fidel Castro took over the country and made it Marshal Law to have a pass to travel within the island. Marlene was pregnant with their first born, David, which brought them back to the United States in 1957. Marlene gave birth to David R. Ellerington and 6 years later gave birth to Pamala J. Ellerington in 1963.

In 1963 Harold and Marlene moved to Boulder, Colorado for a job with (?) They continued to grow and establish their family roots which has blossomed into 6 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren, all of whom remain in the Colorado to this day.

During her time in Colorado, Marlene worked as an assistant teacher at a private Christian school in Boulder. Each Sunday she faithfully served in the church nursery and choir. She enjoyed gardening, had an artistic eye and natural flair for creating lovely floral arrangements. She had a love for chickens which resulted in a large chicken collection from all her grandkids. Harold and Marlene moved to Sedalia in 2001 and have resided there for the past 20 years. Marlene is endearingly referred to by her grandchildren as Grandma, Nan and Nina.

Nina went to be with her Lord and Savior on August 13, 2021. We are grateful and comforted to know that she is in heaven where there is no more pain or sorrow, and that we will see her again.

She was preceded in death by her father Ralph, mother Helen, and brother Bobby.

She is survived by her husband Harold, son David (Debbie), daughter Pamala (Kirk), grandson Wesley (Terri), granddaughter Ashley, grandson Levi (Kamie), granddaughter Danielle (Tim), granddaughter Chantel, grandson Zach (Rachel), great-grandchildren, Caden, Colter, Jordan, Lyric, Mason, Decker, Laynie, Finnley, Brinley, Hezekiah, Nikolia, and Everly. Also, her sister Dorothy, and two nieces Christine and Lynn.

Harold and Marlene would have been married 66 years, this August 26th.