There will be a celebration of life for Ellie on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at 11:00am at Salem United Church of Christ, 5300 E Florida Ave Denver, Colorado 80222 with reception to follow. All are welcome.

Eleanora Mae Hodde Little McHenry (Ellie) was born December 18,1927 in Hamburg, IA and left this earth peacefully on Sunday April 16, 2023. She was 95 years young.

Ellie was the youngest of 4 born to Anna and Fred Hodde. She grew up in Hamburg Iowa on the family farm. She walked to the one room school house till 8th grade. She was a Spelling Bee Champion and so loved her music, she was in the church choir and part of a quartet throughout her school years. Her love was playing the piano, Ellie could play almost any song by ear, She would say "sing the tune and I'll play with you" and she of course did.

She graduated from Hamburg High School and went to study at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst Ill. She met her first husband, Morris Little, at Elmhurst and they were married in December 1948. He passed away 5 months later due to an illness. She took a break from college and went to Hawaii to see her sister and best friend Ester Lois.  Together, they experienced new adventures and stayed for several months in a beach house on Oahu. She always said that was the best and worst time for her.  Then they took the Ocean Liner back to the mainland.

Ellie decided to go back to college to finish her schooling. She went to Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio and graduated in 1951 with a BA in Christian Education. Her first job after graduating was a commissioned Worker in the E&R church and Director of Religious Education at St. Paul's E&R Church in St. Mary's, Ohio. This is where she met her second husband and "Love of her Life," Milton McHenry. They courted for 2 years and on January 1,1953 they were married. They moved shortly after and mom told the story of packing a one wheel trailer with all our worldly possession and set out to the "beautiful state of Colorado." This is where they resided the rest of their lives.

Ellie and Milton went to the Pioneer Church in downtown Denver and met many of their life long friends. They were always busy with church life as the family grew with 2 girls, Debra and Julie and son, Scott. The church moved out to South Denver and was renamed Salem and they continued their church life and love of the church family, serving on many committees and teaching Sunday school. She was known to all as Grandma Ellie.

Ellie was a stay at home mom until dad bought the Pink Pussy Cat Shoe store and she became the keeper of the books and finance. After it was sold, Mom went to work for the University of Denver and had several office jobs, eventually ending up as the office manager for the executive MBA program. She was the first person the students met in the program and always the one consistent person they could count on for any information. She retired from DU and began to work her Mary Kay business and started to work as the secretary at Salem so the church would have a "greeter" on a daily basis. She absolutely loved her job, but most importantly her church life with all who entered the doors.

Ellie retired for good at the age of 84 and went back to Hawaii for the last time in 2014 and stated, "I was so blessed to be able to travel and enjoy it while I could". After many years at the Villas at Sunny Acres she passed peacefully surrounded by her family.

She is survived by her Daughter Debra, (Kurt) Mayhew, Son, Scott (Cherie) McHenry, 9 grandchildren Heidi Wilderman (Craig), Eric, Kelly (Maison) and Kerry Mayhew, Ryan, Mark (Stephanie) McHenry, and Kyla McHenry, 2 great granddaughters, Norah and Ruby. Ellie is preceded by her husband, Milton McHenry and daughter, Julie McHenry, her fist husband Morris Little, her parents, brother and sisters.

WE are all blessed to know her, be part of her family, and her love she gave to us all. It will not be forgotten.