Ellen 'Jean' Nally

Ellen “Jean” Nally passed away at the age of 82 at Kalispell Regional Healthcare.

She was born on Nov. 12, 1933 in Ottumwa, Iowa, the daughter of the late Henry North and Wilma (King) North. She graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1951. She attended St. Luke’s School of Nursing in Kansas City, Mo.

She was elected to the Northumberland, Pa., 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 she was a Girl Scout leader for many years at the Girl Scout “Little House” in Northumberland, a Republican State Representative. Ellen worked with the American Red Cross in various programs and was a long time 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. (Cindy) of Broken Arrow, Okla., and Kevin (April) of Lake Harmony, Pa.; four daughters, Denise Orlando (Jim) of Springfield, Pa., Theresa Smith (Leonard) of Mechanicsburg, Pa., Julie Kessler (John) of Turbotville, Pa., and Kathleen Nally Madigan of Whitefish; eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Three sisters, Ann (Min) North of Riverside, Calif., Lillie May Latch (Duane) of Excelsior Springs, Mich., and Terry Sue Wymore (Leroy) of Oskaloosa, Iowa. She was pre deceased by one sister, Jackie Heland (Leo).

She was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, 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.