Ellen Young

Ellen passed away on April 11, 2024, at age 80 in Rogers, Arkansas.

Ellen was born in Independence, Iowa, to Charles and Mildred (Basquin) Grover on March 29, 1944. The family resided in Rowley until Ellen was age 4, then they moved to Clutier, Iowa. Ellen was a graduate of Traer-Clutier High School in 1962. Ellen married her high school sweetheart Robert (Sam) Young on August 7, 1964, making their home in Clutier before moving to Traer a few years later.

Ellen worked for First Community Bank, then The Traer Pharmacy before attending college at UNI. She graduated with her BA in Education in 1982, and was a member of Kappa Delta Phi. She was hired by the Traer Star Clipper where she performed duties as a reporter, photographer, page layout, copy editor and managing editor. She retired from the paper in 2002.

Ellen loved being active in the Traer community being a member of the Eastern Star, P.E.O. and the United Presbyterian Church. She was a driver in many community functions including the creation of the Salt and Pepper Shaker Gallery, coordinating the alumni class reunion dinners and often helped with the Winding Stairs Festival. Ellen was a founding member of the Tama County Development Board and Traer Development Corporation. Ellen also attended Iowa Tourism meetings promoting Traer and Tama County. Ellen had served on the Community Foundation of NE Iowa for several years. Ellen was a prolific grant writer bringing lots of funds to a lot of organizations in Traer over the years.

Ellen loved spending time with her family, and friends, traveling with her husband, attending Salt and Pepper Conventions, reading and being involved in the Traer Community.

Ellen is survived by her husband of 59 years Sam, son Robert (Shelly) Young ,of Urbandale, daughter Valerie Young Irvine, of Cedar Rapids, sister and brother-in-law Barbara and Jerry Nelson, of Delmar, IA, sister-in-law Bonnie Gray, of Bettendorf, IA, brother-in-law Ed Ewoldt, of Wheaton, IL, and sister-in-law Joan Grover, of Bellville, KS, her three grandchildren: Brittany (Matthew) Schlichting, Robert Young, Sara Young, great granddaughter Amelia Schlichting and lots of nieces and nephews and their families.

Ellen is preceded in death by her parents Charles and Mildred Grover, her parents-in-law Robert and Margaret Young, her sisters Charlotte (Lance) Fields, Phyllis (Richard) Day, Nancy Ewoldt, her brother Tom Grover, also brother-in-law Steve Gray and son-in-law Mike Irvine as well as niece Karen (Ewoldt) Kruse, and nephew Kurt Ewoldt.

Memorials can be directed to United Presbyterian Church or any of her other community passions.

Visitation: Thursday, April 18, 2024, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the United Presbyterian Church, 307 Walnut St., Traer, Iowa.

Funeral: Friday, April 19, 2024, at 10:00 am, at the United Presbyterian Church.

Burial: Buckingham Cemetery, Traer.

Arrangements: Overton Funeral Home, 714 First St. Traer, IA. 319-478-2775. Condolences may be left at www.overtonfuneralservices.com