Earlene Ellington

Earlene Ellington, 75, of Grand Island, died Monday, May 9 at Tiffany Square. Graveside service will be 11:30 AM, Monday, May 16, 2022, at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. The Reverend Bev Hieb will officiate. Memorials are suggested to the Central Nebraska Humane Society (centralnebraskahumanesociety.com/donate/). Online condolences may be directed to www.apfelfuneralhome.com.



Earlene was born on June 18, 1946, in Colorado Springs, CO, to Edwin and Martha Louise (Hardin) Jenkins. She attended Grand Island Senior High, graduating in 1964. She was united in marriage to Dave Ellington in 1965, after which the couple lived in Grand Island, Nebraska.



Earlene loved to bowl and was a league member at Meves Bowl and Westside Lanes. She was also a music lover. Elvis was a favorite along with the Beatles, ABBA, and Slim Whitman. But her real passion was for her animals. She always had a dog (or two, or three) at her side. Then, later in life, she and Dave fenced in their acreage, creating a home for three horses and a donkey—all of whom she loved dearly. She was also an avid birdwatcher who made sure the feeders and birdbaths were always full.



Survivors include her son, Todd Ellington; brother, Robert Jenkins; and sister-in-law, Sharon Jenkins.



She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Gary Jenkins, and husband, Dave Ellington.