Elleanor H. Welliver Kelly

Elleanor “Ellie” Welliver Kelly, 90, of Lexington NE passed away Friday, February 15, 2019 in Lexington.   Ellie was born October 25, 1928 in Lexington to Millard and Cloreada (Selk) Dodge. Ellie was the eldest of five children, brothers Keith and Jim and sisters Sherry and Arlyn. She grew up in Lexington and graduated from Lexington High School with the class of 1947. On April 23, 1947 she was united in marriage to Vernon “Doc” Welliver. Upon Doc’s discharge from the US Army, the couple moved to Scappoose, Oregon briefly before returning to Lexington where they made their permanent home. In 1950 they started a family with the arrival or Craig and four years later they completed their family with Cole.   Doc and Ellie enjoyed traveling and took many trips. Ellie was a member of a singing trio associated with the VFW, even performing at the height of glamor of the Pawnee Hotel in North Platte with several “Big Band” groups.   Ellie loved music, she always had it playing and later in life, if it wasn’t playing you could hear Fox News in the background.   If you knew Ellie, you knew that she was always impeccably dressed with immaculate hair and makeup…even right up until the end. She was beautiful outside, but a true beauty inside.   Ellie was a 70-year plus member of the First Presbyterian Church. Ellie loved to play cards. She was a member of a special card group that met every Monday for decades that she and her friends referred to as “therapy”. She was a member of several bridge groups as well. She loved to challenge many family members with hours long games of Spite and Malice.   Ellie loved to socialize, was a member of a dance club for many years, an avid golfer, member of a bowling league, and a huge Husker fan.   Ellie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband’s Doc and Bill, her brothers Keith and Jim, sister Sherry, and many other friends and family.   Ellie is survived by her sons: Craig (Phillyis) Welliver of Lead, SD; Cole Welliver of Lexington NE; sister Arlyn Bowman of Dewitt, IA; brother-in-law Von Hukil of Clovis NM; sister-in-law Lorna Dodge of Kearney NE; sister-in-law Ardeth Dodge of North Platte NE. Grandchildren; Samantha (Shad) Mann of Gothenburg NE and Travis (Crystal) Welliver of Valentine NE. Great-grandchildren Trevor Mann, Mariah Welliver and Andrew Philbrick as well as many family and friends.   Graveside services will be held Friday, March 22, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the Greenwood Cemetery in Lexington with Reverend Eddie Mariel, officiating.   Memorials are suggested to the family for later designation and may be sent to Samantha Mann, 41305 Hwy 30, Gothenburg NE 69138.   Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com