Elaine Carol Ashley, 93, of Monett, MO, died on August 22, 2017 while at her home.
She was born April 23, 1924, in Minneapolis, MN. Her birth parents were Elmore William Charles and Nileen Averil (Wynn) Steffen. Elaine’s parents divorced when she was six and her father married the wonderful woman she knew as Mom. Her name was Anna Marie (Wolf). Elmore and Anna had three children together, making Elaine the second oldest of seven.
Elaine was baptized into the Lutheran faith on April 5, 1925 and confirmed her faith through the Rite of Confirmation on April 10, 1938. Her confirmation verse was Hebrews 13:5, Be content with such things as ye have; for He hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Elaine graduated from Cedar Falls High School, Cedar Falls, IA, with the Class of 1942. She did secretarial work. On Easter Sunday, April 25. 1943, she married Royce Onley Ashley of LaPorte City, IA, at St. Peter’s American Evangelical Lutheran Church, Santa Ana, CA, where he was stationed in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
After an Honorable Discharge from military service on January 21, 1946, Royce returned to his family and farming in his home state of Iowa. Then in January 1957, Elaine and Royce packed up their truck and a small trailer and moved their family of four children to Monett, MO. They soon bought an 89 acre farm northwest of town with his GI Bill. This came to be known as Ashley’s Acres, where Elaine and Royce lived for 50 years, during which time they raised five children, many hogs, cattle, other animals, and crops. Elaine was a homemaker and the farm’s secretary. She also sold Stanley Home Products for over 20 years.
After retiring from the hog business, Elaine and Royce traveled for 20 years from Alaska to Hawaii to Florida and in between, often stopping to visit family and friends across the country. Elaine was very interested in genealogy, the research of which she incorporated into their travels.
The five children, all of whom survive, are Leon Ashley of Humansville, MO; Lynda Endicott of Sarcoxie, MO; Carolyn Kleiboeker (Glennon) of Wentworth, MO; Janine Gates (Billy) of Battlefield, MO; Wynette Quade (Tony) of Carthage, MO.
Elaine had twelve grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother, Leon Jon Steffen (Laura) of Albert Lea, MN; and one sister, DeLila Schweizer of Visalia, CA.
She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, one brother, and her husband Royce of 71 years.
She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Monett, MO, where funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 26, 2017. Reverend Andrew Kennell will be officiating. Interment will follow at McCormick-St. John’s Cemetery, Monett. Visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m. Friday at Buchanan Funeral Home. Memorial contributions can be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church in care of the funeral home.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Buchanan Funeral Home, Monett, MO.
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