Mary Ellen Hall

Mary Ellen Hall, age 86, entered into a new life embraced by Jesus at the Jefferson County Health Center on April 20, 2012.

A Funeral service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield, Iowa at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday April 25, 2012. Pastor Joe Phipps will be officiating. Burial will follow at the Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield.

Visitation for family and friends will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday April 24, 2012 at Behner Funeral Home in Fairfield, Iowa.

The family request memorials in lieu of flowers. Cards and memorials to the First Presbyterian Church (Scholarship Fund), the Fairfield Public Library, and the Southeastern Renal Dialysis can be sent to Don D. Hall, 308 E. Pierce Ave., Fairfield, Iowa.

Mary Ellen Hall was born on December 2, 1925 in Fairfield, the daughter of Augustus (Gus) Mullenix and Bessie Pearl Donovan Mullenix. She graduated from Fairfield High School in 1943. On October 23, 1947, she married Don D. Hall at the Barhydt Chapel on the Parsons College Campus in Fairfield and celebrated 64 years of marriage last fall. Their favorite song was " As Time Goes By".

Mary Ellen worked for Labaugh Insurance starting back in 1943. In August of 1948, she started her own insurance business named Hall Insurance Agency. Her husband, Don , joined her in the business in May, 1951. After 40 years they sold their business in 1983.

She was a life long member of the First Presbyterian Church. Before her death she had been the longest living member of the Gamma Circle having joined at the age of eighteen. Women of the Gamma Circle crocheted prayer shawls which were then given to hospital patients for comfort. Mary Ellen had completedd numerous prayer shawls over the past few years.

Mary Ellen was active in many clubs and organizations which included the following: Past 1st District President of American Legion Auxiliary, Daughters of the American Revolution, Eastern Star, Pythian Sisters, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, Past Worthy High Priestest of White Shrine of Jerusalem, Ottumwa Civil War Roundtable, Rebekahs, Heritage Club, Keep Young Club, Libertyville Travelers, AARP, and the Jefferson County Genealogical Society.

Her hobbies and interests included crocheting, knitting, playing Bingo, card games, Rummikub, going to garage sales, antique shows, traveling to different countries, collecting bears and Santas. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and grandchildren.

She loved researching for the "family roots" and had put many years into genealogy. Her husband and she traveled extensively throughout the United States compiling records at libraries and visiting cemeteries looking for information on her family history.

Mary Ellen was a story teller and gave speeches at her various clubs with many interesting stories to share with her audience. She was repeatedly asked to come back to tell story after story.

She loved dogs and gave many years of love and devotion to a cocker spaniel named Ginger and a mutt named Goldie. Both dogs were well advanced into old age from her loving care. When Goldie got sick at the end of his life one would find her sleeping on the kitchen floor comforting the dog she loved so much.

Mary Ellen is survived by her husband, Don D. Hall; son Don D. Hall II of Fairfield; daughter Ann Lorraine (Dennis) Beckner of Plymouth, Minnesota; brother Dick Mullenix of Breckenridge, Minnesota; six grandchildren who include Tina Hall Rahbusch, Alison LaCroix, Derrick Beckner, Amanda Beckner, Paul James and Michal Lynn; great-grandson Riley Rahbusch and special grandson Derek Brady.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Asher and Glen and granddaughter Jannelle "Nellie" Beckner.