Ella Irene Henry, 91, formerly of Sligo passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2024, after a period of declining health at Highland Oaks at Water Run in Clarion.
Ella was born in Sligo on August 15, 1932. She was the daughter of the late W. Ross and Minnie Mae (Craig) McCall.
As a young widow with four children and one on the way, she met and later married Eugene Charles Henry on January 1, 1962. Together they created their own version of the Brady Bunch with children as follows: William (Wiser) Conner, Robert (Wiser) Conner, “Marty” William Henry, Debra (Conner) Reasinger, Douglas Conner, Lisa (Conner) Balenciaga, and then added to their family Robin (Henry) Peterson, and Craig Henry.
Ella was a hard-working wife and mother. When she wasn’t working on managing McCall’s Egg Farm in Sligo, you could often find her making a large batch of her famous hardtack candy, orange cookies, noodles, loafs of bread, buns, and rolls. While Gene was on the road through the week, she managed the chicken farm with family and employees until it closed in 1983. She then worked for State Farm Insurance, first for Robert Eshbaugh in Clarion, after his retirement she worked for her brother Carl McCall in Sligo, after his retirement she worked for Mike Veltri in Sligo. She retired at the age of 79 from State Farm.
Ella was a lifelong member of the Sligo Presbyterian Church, where she was active in the choir, served as a deacon, elder, Sunday school teacher, and pulpit committee member. She was an EMT for the Sligo Ambulance Service and her most exciting call was helping to deliver a baby. She was a 50+ year member and twice past worthy matron of the Order of the Eastern Star and served many years as the secretary for the Sligo O.E.S. chapter which later joined with the Clarion O.E.S. chapter.
She is survived by her children; Willam (Nancy) Conner of Springfield, MO, Debra (Conner) Reasinger and Bob Edmiston of Sebastian, FL, Lisa (Gene) Balenciaga of Irwin, Robin (Allen) Peterson of Clarion, and Craig (Michele) Henry of Warner Robins, GA. She is also survived by her late son’s wives; Barbara (Gary) Edmonds of Sligo, Rene Conner (John ‘Chip’ Harriger) of East Brady, and Roxanne Henry of New Bethlehem. She is survived by her sister Esther Myers of Clarion, and Donald (Dorthy) McCall of Sligo, sister-in-law Vivian McCall, and many nieces and nephews. With such a large family Ella was most proud of her 24 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren. In her final days they brought a smile to her face anytime they visited.
Ella is preceded in death by her husband of 45 years Eugene C. Henry on Nov 29, 2007, and her prior husband of 5 years Virgil Conner on Oct 31, 1959. She was also preceded in death by her sons Douglas Conner Apr. 10, 1998, Robert Conner on Apr. 25, 2016, stepson Marty Henry on May 4, 2023, brothers Col. Craig McCall, Carl McCall, infant sister Sylvia McCall, brothers-in-law Clyde Myers and Walter Henry, sisters-in-law Norma McCall, Nancy McCall, Lois McCall, and Ruth (Henry) Burdett.
Ella’s family will receive friends on Friday, May 10, 2024, from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at the Varner Funeral Home in Sligo. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at the Sligo Presbyterian Church. Additional viewing will be held at the church at 10:00 AM. The service will begin at 11:00 AM with the Rev. Ed Rudiger, officiating.
Interment will follow in the Sligo Cemetery.
The family requests in lieu of flowers memorials be made to the Sligo Presbyterian Church Building Fund or Shriners Children’s Hospitals.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.varnerfuneralhome.com.
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