Ellen L. Gridley

Ellen Lucille Gridley, the daughter of Leo Benjamin and Ethel Irene (Wallace) Fitzgerald, was born on December 28, 1939, in Creston, Iowa. Ellen entered eternal rest on April 10, 2016 at Greater Regional Hospice House, Creston, Iowa at the age of seventy-six years, three months, and thirteen days.
Ellen attended school in Creston and graduated from Creston High School with the Class of 1957. On March 1, 1958 she married Marven Albert Gridley in Greenfield, Iowa. After her marriage, they lived in the Creston area for a few years. They then moved to a farm south of Corning until 1975. In 1975 the family moved to a farm north of Lenox, where they resided until 1986. Ellen was a homemaker and farm wife; raising her family and helping with the farm chores. Ellen also worked as a cook in the Stringtown Café a few years. The family moved to Prescott and Ellen began working in Corning for Burcliff Industries. Ellen was employed at Burcliff until it closed. Ellen took a few computer classes and returned to working at home. Ellen loved her family and enjoyed babysitting for her grandchildren. Ellen and Marven recently moved back to Creston.
Ellen was active in 4-H when her children were younger. She loved tending to her vegetable and flower gardens. Ellen was very fond of the baby calves during calving season and bottle fed many calves right up until last year. She loved to sew and she has made each grandchild a quilt, pillows and stuffed bears. Her family and farm were most important in her life. She will be missed by many.
Left to cherish Ellen’s memory is her husband, Marven Gridley, Creston; her children: Tracey (Tom) Gray, Prescott; Michael (Pam) Gridley, Norwalk, IA; and Marceen Miller (and Chad Lynch), Creston; her Six Grandchildren: Maggie Stuart, Creston; Jenny Gray, Des Moines, IA; Josie Gray (and Ben Murphy), Bedford; Abagayle Miller, Lucas Lynch, and Rheanna Lynch, all of Creston; Two Great-Grandchildren: Hudson and Briggs Murphy; Three Sisters: Sharon (Fred) Ehlers, Grand Junction, CO; Peggy Meyer, Cedar Rapids, IA; Cinda (Mike) Baker, North Platte, NE; Two Brothers: Lynn Fitzgerald, North Platte, NE; and Dennis (Betty) Fitzgerald, Des Moines, IA; Two Step-Sisters: Joyce Lovely, Fontanelle, IA; and Melody (Steve) Hufford, Omaha, NE; Two Sisters-in-Law: Frieda Shearer, Des Moines, IA; and Laura (Dwight) Kleene, Sergeant Bluff, IA; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins who are dear to her heart.
Preceding Ellen in death were her parents; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Carol and Daisy Gridley; her brother, Marvin Fitzgerald; and her step-mother, Clara (Beasley) Fitzgerald.