On December 12, 2018, the Lord called His special servant, Mary Lou Ellison, home to heaven after an extended illness. On that day, the world lost a loving, giving servant of the Lord, a real treasure. Born in the Manda Community to Swedish parents Carl L. and Belle Johnson on July 12, 1928, Mary Lou went to Elgin and Carlson schools and helped out on the farm. Thirteen months after Mary Lou was born, a sister, Pauline Swanberg joined the family. They were not only loving sisters, but life-long friends, enjoying being together this past year in the same retirement center.
After high school graduation, Mary Lou moved to Austin and worked for a time at the Texas Automobile Insurance Office where she made many lifelong friends. Mary Lou met Bobby Floyd Ellison, an Austin High School star athlete who went on to play for the Boston Red Sox organization and served the Army in Korea. Bobby passed away in 1991. For many years, she operated a daycare out of her home, and was lovingly called “LuLu” by many children and their families. She was active in her church, Decker United Methodist Church, until her death and was well-known for crocheting little chickens every year to raise money for the church (KXAN even did a story on “The Chicken Lady”). She never met a stranger and was generous with her hugs and her smiles.
Survivors include daughter Debbie Tucker and husband Jeff, and their daughter Jourdan (Mary Lou’s “pearl from heaven”) from Austin; daughter Judy and Steve Harper of Leander, Judy’s daughter Rachel Roedl and husband Cody and their children, Ella, Emma and Eva, from Cedar Park, Judy’s son Paul Hejl of Rockwall; sister Pauline Swanberg of Austin; many cousins, nieces and nephews and a host of friends and neighbors who will miss her dearly.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 16, 2018 from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Cook-Walden North Lamar Funeral Home. Services will be Monday, December 17, 2018 at 10 a.m. at Decker United Methodist Church, 8304 Decker Lane in Austin, with burial at the Manda Methodist Cemetery to immediately follow. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Manda Methodist Cemetery at 11110 Tom Adams Drive, #305A, Austin, Texas 78753. The family would like to thank the staff at Buckner Villas Greenridge and Campbell Center, as well as St. David’s Hospital ER and ICU staff for their loving care during this difficult time. Mary Lou loved Jesus with all her heart and would want everyone to “let your light shine”.
