Ellen 'Jean' Nally, 82

Ellen “Jean” Nally, 82, passed away March 9, 2016, at Kalispell Regional Healthcare.

She was born on Nov. 12, 1933, in Ottumwa, Iowa, the daughter of the late Henry J. North and Wilma (King) North. She graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1951. She attended St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri. She was elected to the Northumberland, Pennsylvania, Borough Council in 1972 and was the first woman elected to the council in the borough’s 200-year history. She served as vice president of the council during her time in office. She also served on many borough committees.

A dedicated community volunteer, Ellen was a Girl Scout leader for many years at the Girl Scout Little House in Northumberland, and as a Republican state representative. Ellen worked with the American Red Cross in various programs and was a longtime blood donor. She was a member of the Priestley-Forsyth Memorial Library board for many years and often participated in re-enactments of Joseph Priestley’s life at the Priestley Museum in Northumberland in a period costume complete with historical artifacts, tools and implements from the 1780s and ‘90s used by Priestley in his home. She was also involved with and in charge of the CCD program at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Northumberland. Her hobbies and interests included knitting, quilting, crocheting, reading, painting and ceramics.

She is survived by her husband, Bernard F. Nally; two sons, Bernard J. and Cindy of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and Kevin and April of Lake Harmony, Pennsylvania; four daughters, Denise and Jim Orlando of Springfield, Pennsylvania, Theresa and Leonard Smith of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Julie and John Kessler of Turbotville, Pennsylvania, and Kathleen Nally Madigan of Whitefish; eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews; three sisters, Ann and Min North of Riverside, California, Lillie May Latch and Duane of Excelsior Springs, Michigan, and Terry Sue Wymore and Leroy of Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Ellen was predeceased by one sister, Jackie Heland (Leo).

Ellen was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish. She was cremated upon her wishes at the Austin Funeral Home, Whitefish. She was a resident of the Immanuel Lutheran Communities in Kalispell to be near her daughter Kathleen, “Kate.”

A memorial service will be held in Eldon, Iowa, in the summer.

Donations in Ellen’s memory may be sent to Christ Lutheran Church, 5150 River Lakes Pkwy., Whitefish, MT 59937; or Priestley-Forsyth Memorial Library, 100 King Street, Northumberland, PA.