Ella Mae Libal

Ella Mae Libal went to be with God on May 15, at the age of 91. She passed peacefully surrounded by her family. She was born January 27,1933 to Marvin and Esther Wineland on the family farm outside Natoma Kansas.

Ellie graduated from Covert High School in 1951. She went to Fort Hays State to receive her nursing degree in 1955. During her time at college, she came home for a football game and a friend set her up on a blind date with Don. They started their long-distance love story. He came to see her in Hays, and they made lots of phone calls and wrote many letters to each other. They finally eloped to Longmont and were married December 10, 1955. They lived briefly in in Kansas and then moved to Longmont in 1958. Ellie still lived in the house that they bought.

Ellie worked as a nurse and the Longmont Hospital. She continued her nursing career at the Longmont Clinic and worked in many different areas. She particularly enjoyed her work with a cardiologist, Dr. Backup. When she stopped working full-time, she continued to substitute nurse at the Clinic. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels and the Our Center. She was very active at the Methodist Church and volunteered there for 65 years.

She was a born caretaker. She raised 3 kids and cared for many of her 8 grandchildren. She cared for her mother and Don’s father for many years in their home.

Ellie and Don liked to travel. Their favorite was getting in the car and taking off on an adventure. They liked to go to the mountains in the old Jeep and have a picnic.

She was a strong amazing woman that was the glue for all the family. We will be lost without her.

She is survived by her three kids, daughter Debbie (Dan) Johnson, sons Jim, Tim (Lori) and eight grandchildren. She is further survived by her sisters Alice LaRosh, Marvel Wristen (Tom) and brother Ed Wineland (Vickie), and lots of nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Don, parents, and grandson Duran. A Visitation for Ellie will be help at 3pm to 6pm on Wednesday May 29 at Howe Mortuary at 439 Coffman St. A celebration of Ellie’s life will be held at 12:30pm on Thursday May 30 at the Heart of Longmont Methodist Church at 350 11th Ave.

Memorial donations in memory of Ellie can be made to the Heart of Longmont Methodist Church.