Funeral Services Set For Mary Lou Eley

Mary Lou (Sovereign) Eley, age 84, died Thursday, November 1, 2018, at Bryan Hospital, Lincoln, NE.

She was born May 25, 1934 in Royal, NE, to Cecil and Edith Sovereign. She attended Royal School all 12 grades. Mary was united in marriage to Gilbert B. Eley on February 16, 1951, in Orchard, NE. After helping work on the farm for five years, she moved with Gib to Lincoln with one son and three daughters in 1956. Mary worked at Pershing Auditorium then helped Gib with Marshall Field Enterprises for 17 years while raising her family. Mary started working for Woods Bros. Realty, for many years with her husband as a realtor.
Mary served on many committees for local and state real estate associations. She was the first recipient of the Equal Opportunity Award in 2002 for the Realtors Association of Lincoln. Mary was a member of St. Marks United Methodist Church, supported the Lincoln Community Playhouse, was active with the Republican Party, was part of the Welcome Wagon, loved Nebraska football, enjoyed their cabin on the lake, setting up for antique shows & flea markets, entertaining and being surrounded by her family and friends. She could play a mean game of Carbols and could play with the best in pinochle. Mary and Gib enjoyed traveling and in their later years wintering in Mesa, AZ.

Survivors include daughters Marcia (Phil) Brewer, Deborah Kennell and Julia (James) Harbols; 12 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, brother Clifford(Elaine)Sovereign, sister-in-law Sharon Sovereign, brother and sister-in-law John (Aletha) Eley, one foster son Fred Orduna and many special nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Gilbert B Eley, son Michael L Eley, parents Cecil and Edith Sovereign, brother Gordon Sovereign, sister Nona (Sovereign) and brother Timothy Nelson, two nephews Patrick and Timothy Nelson and sister and brother-in-law Violet(Eley) and Lionel Gibbs.
Visitation is Monday, November 5 at Butherus, Maser and Love, 4040 A St. in Lincoln, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Memorial Services at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 6 at St. Marks United Methodist Church, 8550 Pioneers Blvd.  Light luncheon to follow.  Internment at Orchard Hills Cemetery, Orchard, NE, November 6, at approximately 4:30 p.m.
Please direct memorials to Lincoln City Mission or Wounded Warriors. Butherus, Maser and Love Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Online condolences can be left at www.bmlfh.com.