Marella L. Ellison

Marella LaVon Ellison, 89, of Independence, Missouri passed away on Friday, December 20, 2024. Visitation will be Friday, January 3, 2025 12:30 p.m. at the Calvary Baptist Church, Blue Springs, Missouri. Funeral service will follow at 2:00 p.m. at the church.

Marella was born March 1, 1935 in Independence, Missouri. The daughter of James Nave and Charity (Martin) Nave. She lived her early life in Fairmount, Missouri. In her youth the family moved to a farm in Grain Valley where she attended Grain Valley High School. Marella later moved back to Independence and worked at Kmart up until her retirement. Marella was a Christian of the Baptist faith. She met the true love of her life Alva Ellison and they were together and married for 47 years. She enjoyed skiing and square dancing with Alva.  Marella passed away peacefully in her home with her husband by her side after a battle with Alzheimer’s and renal failure at the age of 89.  

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Charity Nave; mother and father-in-law, Dorothy and Tom Ellison; brothers, Bruce, Phillip and Nelson Nave; sisters, Deloris Taylor, Nancy Wilson, Rosetta Nave; granddaughter Kynara Carreiro; grand-daughter-in-law, Sandy Salzman-Upton and great-grandson, Christopher Simpson.

Marella is survived by her husband of 47 years, Alva Ellison; brother, Dan (Sharon) Nave; daughters: Linda E. Lorbecki, Patty (Tim) Bailey; and Debbie (Max) Upton; son, Mike (Charlotte) Simpson; daughter, Beverly Simpson; grandchildren: Christopher Lorbecki, Sarah Lorbecki, Susan (Jeremy) Lindle, Linda M. Witkowski, Rosetta (Tim) Hall, Cheryl (Jack) Allen, Stephen (Rachael) Bailey, Silas Upton, Tilena Upton, Kenny Upton, Jason Simpson, Leslie (Luke) Beardall and Melissa (Travis) Braun; honorary grandchildren: Kayla, Hannah and Jacob Black; brother-in-law, Steve (Carolyn) Ellison; 19 great grandchildren and 8 great great-grandchildren.

Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home Grain Valley, MO 64075 816-847-4441