Life Story for Ann Ell Early Gelino August 8, 1918-January 6, 2018



Ann Ell Early Gelino succumbed to her dementia on January 6, 2018. She passed peacefully in her sleep gently and gracefully, just as she lived her 100 years of life.

Born August 8, 1918 to James Madison and Juell Robertson Early in Cooper, Texas, Ann Ell was the eldest of three sisters (Lucile, Billy, and Mary Margaret) and one brother (James Early Jr, known as Sonny). Each of her younger siblings and their spouses preceded her in death (Sonny in WWII and her sisters from health-related causes).

Miss Annie as she was known throughout her childhood, grew up in east Texas and attended schools in Cooper. She wanted to be a pediatrician, but the Great Depression and financial challenges prevented her from pursuing formal education beyond her 1935 high school diploma. She went to work as cashier and bookkeeper for the dashing manager and co-owner of the Cooper's new Chicago Store John Alexander Gelino. She married her boss in 1937. Their wedding was a town event feting Ann Ell at numerous engagement dinners, afternoon teas, and bridal showers according to the newspaper clippings saved in her bride's book. In fact, Ann married John twice. The second time was during their honeymoon to New Orleans following Roman Catholic religious instruction, an accommodation to John's faith and family.

When John went to work for the C.R. Anthony Corporation, managing stores in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, Ann stayed home with new son John Michael. The World War II draft touched John in 1945, though the Navy did not ever deploy him overseas. (Ann Ell kept every letter her beloved John mailed her, and was comforted by having them re-read to her in her final days.)

Upon John's discharge, he opened and managed Anthony's stores in McKinney, Texas and Wewoka, Oklahoma. In 1949 he opened the first Anthony's on Tulsa's near north side, moving the family including new daughter Susan Lucille from Wewoka. In the mid-1950s Ann Ell and John purchased a partnership in the Federated Stores, then renamed them Ellington-Gelino. As John expanded their business to multiple stores, Ann assumed a role as co-bookkeeper and manager. She juggled those responsibilities with raising their children and staying involved in PTA as an officer most years, even as her children reached high school age.

When John sold his business in the 1960s, and joined the Froug's Corporation as a store manager, Ann Ell became more involved in Rotary Ann's (the auxiliary group to Rotarians) and traveled with John to various International Rotary conventions. Ann Ell later went to work for her brother-in-law Theo Gelino at After Nine Shoes, eventually managing his Tulsa store. As a manager and business woman of the 1980s, Ann Ell became interested in and joined the Cherokee chapter of Business and Professional Women, accepting various leadership roles.

When she retired, Ann Ell became more active in their Sunday School class at First Presbyterian Church, accepting co-chair responsibilities for class social activities. Additionally, Ann took oil painting classes, and followed her interest in genealogy to discover her Confederate War ancestor Jubilee Early, cousin to General Robert E. Lee. With that information, Ann became a member of Daughters of the Confederacy and traveled to National conventions.

In their retirement, Ann Ell and John enjoyed travel. Among their favorites were trips to Europe, Greece, Mexico, and Hawaii. They sailed on numerous cruises with her sisters and friends. Also, Ann Ell and John annually planned a driving trip to see the USA with her sister Lucile and husband Ava, or later with friends. Ann usually collected a spoon or a charm for her bracelet from each place she visited.

Ann Ell especially enjoyed entertaining at home. She and her sisters grew up as great cooks and recipe collectors, generously sharing recipes with each other and their guests. Thanksgiving with family was the highlight of Ann Ell's year. After the death of their father in 1954, the sisters took turns hosting the rotating family reunion. Most of her family pictures were taken at those events. Family can identify the year by whose home was the backdrop and by the ever-changing hairstyles and skirt lengths on the ladies.

Later Ann Ell and John participated in a 3 table couples bridge group. John always looked forward to their turn to host, so he could savor a luscious dessert and the leftovers. Oh, how he loved Ann Ell's cooking.

Ann Ell and John were always advocates of educational achievement, and were ever eager to attend graduation milestones for their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

After her beloved John passed in 2000, Ann Ell stayed in their home believing John was always nearby. She lived independently, even after her first hip replacement surgery. When she broke the second hip in 2015, her dementia had already progressed so that she became dependent on the long-term care at St. Simeon's Episcopal Home, eventually accepting she would not be able to return to her house again. She was loved by the staff at St. Simeon's, and graciously acknowledged and appreciated all the care staff provided.

In control to the last, she decided what and whether she wanted to do or eat. One day Ann tore off her protective bib twice during lunch, adamantly telling staff, "No more," and asked staff to help her to bed. On the day before she passed, she held her arms up to embrace her guiding angels, and was able to communicate that she wanted to hold her beloved John's picture. With his picture propped up on her chest, she caressed it and relaxed into a deeper, peaceful, contented state, slipping away the next day.

Ann Ell is survived by her son John Michael and his wife Debbie; daughter Susan Lucile and her husband Gary Raasch; grandsons Mark Shannon Gelino and wife Nancy, John Bartley Gelino, all of Tulsa; Robert Lee Raasch of Muskogee (who called her Mungo), Eric Warren Raasch and wife Melissa of Cary, NC.; and step-granddaughter Stephanie and husband George Herndon of Broken Arrow.

Known as Grandma Ann Ell by her great-grandchildren Jordan, wife Tori, and Abby Gelino and her two step great-grandchildren Natalie Giles and Luke Will, she asked to be called GG by her younger great-grandchildren Riley, Ally, and Alex Raasch. Additionally, she has two step great-great grandchildren, Shayla and Niah Giles.

Ann Ell was the family historian for many of her sixteen nieces and nephews and their spouses. As they have traveled to celebrate her in the past years, they've reveled in her accounts of the great Depression and WWII, curious about stories of their own parents' early years. All congratulated her on her independence and mental acuity even into her nineties.

Ann Ell will be missed by all who knew her. All celebrate that she passed into eternity in the manner she chose…peacefully, in her sleep…joyful and eager to be with her heavenly family and friends of the past.
Visitation will be on Monday, January 15, 2018, from 3:30 until 7:30 p.m. at Fitzgerald  Ivy Chapel, 14th and South Boulder Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m., on Tuesday, January 16th, at Memorial Park Cemetery Chapel, 5111 S. Memorial Drive, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

FITZGERALD IVY CHAPEL, 918-585-1151