Maxine E (Thornberry) Harper-Ellison

Maxine E. Harper-Ellison, 91, was born on April 27, 1924 in Belmont County to the late Henry O. and Lila G. (Miller) Thornberry, and passed away March 8, 2016 at Emerald Pointe Nursing & Rehab in Barnesville.

A sister Marple Kluskey and three brothers preceded her in death, Devaun a marine was killed in Korea and Laverne served in the Navy, Orlin was a home body.

She was a member of East Main Church of Christ.

After graduation in June 1942, she went to Dayton to work for the War Department starting as a secretary and shortly thereafter became an Expeditor - supervising distribution of government equipment.

She returned to Barnesville after the war in 1945 and married Jay S. Harper, a marine in 1947. They had a son, Marlin Jay Harper, in 1949. Maxine was a devoted wife and mother, a great cook and baker, spent many hours cooking from scratch, cakes, pies, and cookies.

Jay passed away in 1967. In 1973, she married Galen E. Ellison, who died in 2003.

She is survived by her son, Marlin J. Harper and a sister-in-law, Mary Thornberry and many nieces and nephews, several cousins, and on the Ellison side many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and one special niece and nephew, Jim and Bea Finley.

She worked for 3 plus years for the former J.J. Kirk Co., and plus 30 years for the former T&A Rogers Co.

She is also survived by her special little poodle, Stacie.

Much of her time in later years was spent reading, one book after another, 3 or 4 a week. She loved historical fiction.

Since breaking her hip in 2013, she has been trapped with a sharp clear mind and was confined to finish her life in four walls at Emerald Pointe.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 10, 2016 from 4-8 PM at Campbell-Plumly-Milburn Funeral Home, 319 North Chestnut Street, Barnesville, Ohio where services will be held on Friday, March 11, 2016 at 11 AM with Ev. M. Gale Yoho officiating. Burial will follow at Crestview Cemetery in Barnesville, Ohio.

Memorial contributions may be made in Maxine's memory to the East Main Church of Christ.

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