Ellen M. Eastman

Ellen Margrethe (Carlson) Eastman, age 98, of Grants Pass, died Thursday, July 26, 2007 at Rogue Valley Medical Center.

A visitation will be Friday at 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 3, 2007 at Hull & Hull Chapel. A Funeral service will follow at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Ron Hayworth officiating. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park.

Ellen was born February 12, 1909 in Seattle, Washington, the first-born child of Fred and Margrethe Carlson, both immigrants of Denmark. She passed on to her Lord on July 26, 2007 after surpassing her goal of outliving her father who lived to age 95. Like him, she was able to live independently right up until the last few days.

Ellen worked as a bank clerk in Seattle, where she met Dale Eastman, the love of her life. Dale taught her to fish and they shared many memorable days on the lakes and rivers of the Pacific Northwest. After living many years at Hayden Lake, Idaho, they moved to Grants Pass, Oregon where Ellen nursed both of Dale’s parents until they died.

Their lifelong passion was the Lord and they strove to follow his command to “love one another”. She was blessed with a talent for counseling and her greatest satisfaction came from comforting and advising both young and old through times of trouble.

She is survived by her daughter, Lynn Carlson (Robert), brothers Bill Carlson (Joan) and Bob Carlson (Evelyn), grandchildren Tris Carlson (Cathy), and Kim Ray (Tom), great-grandchildren Anna, Dane, Billy and Annette, many nieces and nephews, and her special “Grants Pass family”.

Our sweet Ellen was a kind and gracious lady and she will be deeply missed.