Gwendolyn Elvord

MADISON - Gwendolyn Elvord went to sleep in death on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, surrounded by family and friends, who deeply loved her. For 17 years she had fought a long and courageous battle with interstitial pneumonitis. She was born on Oct. 6, 1931, in Houston, Miss., to George and Ollie Lee (Davidson) Shellie. At age 9, she and her mother moved to Beloit, Wis., where her mother later married Henry Allen Carter. Gwen will be remembered most as someone who truly loved her God, Jehovah, with her whole heart and with her whole soul and with her whole mind and loved her neighbor with the same intensity (Matthew 22:37-40). Her own deep faith and the joy she found in helping others come to know of the promises of God's kingdom and paradise here on earth is what sustained her. You could not come in contact with her without going away feeling encouraged, motivated - sometimes against your will, but always, in the end, for your benefit - and energized to keep doing all that you personally could do for yourself and for your relationship with your Creator, Jehovah God. She was united in marriage with Clyde L. Elvord on Sept. 24, 1950. Together over the years they raised a family and experienced all of the joy and pain that two people deeply committed to each other and their family can expect to encounter. They did this with humor, laughter, strong disagreements at times, but always with that lasting bond between them. Together they raised four children, Shelly, Michael (Amy Zolot), Paul and Rebecca (Dan Nilles) and in 1968, added a third son, Ted Smith (Diane) to their family. Her mother, father, step-father and a sister, Hattie, preceded Gwen in death. She is survived by her husband, Clyde; her five children and their spouses; her brother, John Henry Carter (Deborah); sister, Lenora Thomas; 16 grandchildren, Brandy, Kenan, Jadon, Savannah, Tyler, Zachary, Alex, Aja, Adrienne, Carter, Auhura, Adrian, Zachary, Adina, Venisha and Aaron; 12 great-grandchildren, Josiah, Austin, Ethan, Cheyenne, Sarai, Isabella, Kordell, Yeavian, Bryson, Xavier, Saege and Haven; numerous nieces and nephews and countless others who looked upon her as "Mom," "Grandma Gwen" and "la abuela." A visitation will be held on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2007, at 3 p.m. with a memorial service at 4:30 p.m. officiated by George Miles at the MARRIOTT MADISON WEST, located at 1313 John Q. Hammonds Drive, Middleton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gwen's name to the Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center, Madison. The family wishes to thank all of the staff at Meriter Hospital, Don and Marilyn Anderson HospiceCare Center and a special thanks to Dr. William Hobbins and his staff, Diane and Mary. Gwen was truly a "Proverbs 31" wife and mother. We will all miss her deeply, but look forward to her answering the call when "all those in the memorial tombs will hear His voice and come out" May we all do our part to be there to welcome her back!