Ellen Crossett

Ellen Delores Crossett, 80, of Colonial Manor in Columbus Junction, died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 15, at the Beatty Funeral Home in Washington with Amy Sara Richardson officiating. Burial will be at 1 p.m., Wednesday at the Wellman Public Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon to 7 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home, where the family will greet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Memorial funds have been established for Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Columbus Junction, Alzheimer?s Association and Hospice of Washington County.

Mrs. Crossett was born Oct. 3, 1936, at her parents? home in Washington, the daughter of Ada Fannie (Christner) and David R. Schantz. She married the love of her life, Gary E. Crossett, on Jan. 14, 1952, in Bloomfield.

She attended Shiloh Country School outside of Washington. She and her husband farmed for 49 years southeast of Washington, and were married 57 years before his death in April 2009. She was a member of the Sunshine Country Club. She sold Tupperware for many years, worked at the Snack Shack as a waitress, and worked at Orchard Hill Rescare and Nucara Pharmacy in Washington. She taught Sunday school for many years at Pleasant Hill and First Christian Church. It was hard to find her sitting idle. She was a seamstress, making several junior bridesmaid dresses to look like the bride?s dress, making crafts, decorating cakes for birthdays and weddings, owning her ceramic shop, pouring her own porcelain to make dolls, or working in her flower and vegetable gardens. She loved sharing her talents with family and friends and was often found at the Farmers Market in Washington.

Surviving are six children, Colleen Kay Jefferson and husband David of Grundy Center, Marshall David Crossett and wife Jennifer of Washington, Connie Lynn Crossett and special friend Bob Shepherd of Washington, Ada Sue Sands and husband Dale of Cedar Rapids, Teresa Mae Peterson and husband Darwin of Red Oak, and Sheryl Denise Crossett of Washington; 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Pauline Duck of Leawood, Kansas, and Betty Beenblossom of Washington; two brothers-in-law, Duane Crossett of Columbus Junction, and Tom Crossett of Burlington; and four sisters-in-law, Linda Kleese of Washington, Mid Thomas of Washington, Mary Schantz of Washington, and Dolores Crossett of New London.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; three sisters; one brother; one brother-in-law; and one niece.