Eva E. Ellis, 93

Eva E. Ellis, 93, of Harlem, passed away from natural causes on Thursday, July 4, 2013, at Northern Montana Care Center. 

Eva was born on January 25, 1920, in Havre to Luther and Victoria (Jackson) Maze. She was raised in Havre, attending the country schools through her eighth-grade year. Following her school years, Eva worked for the Sterling family, helping out with the children and the chores around the house. She married Raymond Ellis in Havre in 1937, and the couple’s union was blessed with five children. They made their home in and around Havre for the next 30 years, raising their children there.  

Eva worked for the railroad as a maintenance worker for many years. They couple moved to Columbia Falls in 1980, where they stayed until Raymond’s death in 1992. Afterward, Eva remained in Columbia Falls, caring for her home and her yard, until she returned to Harlem in 2011.

She enjoyed camping, fishing, crocheting, yard work, her cats and dogs, gardening and canning. She was a fabulous baker, always baking her own bread. But the real joy of her life was her family and spending time with them. They were her world.

Eva was preceded in death by her husband Raymond Ellis; son Earl G. Ellis; her son-in-law Leon Cochran; her parents Luther and Victoria Maze; sisters Minnie Simpson, Louise Nelson, and Tamson Maze; and brothers Archie Maze, Harold Maze, Gordon Maze and Merrel Maze.

She is survived by her son Ron (Cathy) Ellis of Sheridan, Wyo.; her daughters Rayella (Lawrence) Boucher of Havre, Doris (Ron) Becker of Columbia Falls, and Dorothy Cochran of Harlem; her 24 grandchildren; her 60 great-grandchildren; her 37 great-great-grandchildren; her sisters Lorraine Fraley of Alaska and Audrey Halcomb of Utah; her brothers Norman Maze of Havre, James “Scotty” Maze of Joplin, and Harvey Maze of Great Falls; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and many more she loved as her own.

Wake services will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, July 8, at the First Church of the Nazarene in Havre and will continue until the visitation, which will be from noon to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9. Funeral services will follow the visitation at 2 p.m., and the burial will follow in Highland Cemetery. The family has requested that memorials be made in Eva’s name to Bear Paw Hospice, the First Church of the Nazarene in Havre, or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements, and you can leave your memories/condolences for the family at www.hollandbonine.com.