Ellen Underwood

Ellen A. Underwood, 60,of Raeford, died Wednesday, April 30, 2014 in Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Fayetteville after a lengthy battle with cancer. She will be sorely missed by her loving family and friends. Ellen will be remembered as a strong, caring, and giving soul that enriched all that knew her. A beloved mother, grandmother, and sister that had a passion for horses and was a devoted animal lover to hundreds of furry creatures that came across her path.

Ellen thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors. Being at the beach and trail riding with her beloved horses brought her immense joy. Born in Ohio and raised in a small town in Missouri, she was the only daughter of the late Robert and Virginia Johnson. Raised with 3 brothers, she was tough when she needed to be, yet she also had the grace and gentleness of her sweet mother Virginia. She loved reading and learning was a life-long passion. She was as smart as a whip and few people ever beat her in a game of Scrabble.

Ellen is survived by her four children: her son Michael Underwood of Denver, Colorado; daughter Deborah McClendon (Kevin) and their 2 daughters (Keira & Lainey) of Saginaw, Michigan; Catherine Gilpin and her daughter (Olivia) of Springfield, Missouri; Jessica Oakes (Dennis) and their three sons (Aden, Nathan, and Caleb); and her three bothers: John Johnson of Lima, Ohio; Donald Johnson of Camdenton, Missouri, Robert Johnson of St. Louis, Missouri.
Ellen worked hard her entire life. She served in many civil servant positions all over the United States for the U.S. Army culminating in her position as the Administrative Assistant for the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg. She served with distinction and was highly regarded by all that knew her. She was a member of the International Association of Administrative Professionals and earned her certification as a Certified Professional Secretary. She was without equal in her profession and when she retired was sorely missed.

Her children will dearly miss her listening ear, her beautiful blue eyes, her fiery red hair, and her corny sense of humor that always kept them laughing! She'll always be remembered for the fun camping trips, the hours spent hunting for the perfect shells at the beach, the time she was a contestant on the Price is Right, her lifelong love of the 'Young and the Restless' (that her children would ceaselessly tease her about since the characters haven't changed in 30 years), the pictures of angels in every room of the house (including the bathroom) staring at everyone as they went about their day, her spectacular cooking, the aroma of a freshly brewed pot of extremely strong coffee every morning, and her special ability to talk anyone into doing anything and convincing them that it was their idea. Her grandkids will miss their doting grandmother that stole their socks and kept them as keepsakes, and the love she constantly poured out to them.

A vigil and prayer reading will be held this Sunday from 5-7pm at the Pinecrest Funeral & Cremation and a funeral mass will be held the following day (Monday, May 5) at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Hope Mills at 12pm. There will be a social lunch afterwards provided by the church.

We know she's in Heaven and is charming the socks off Jesus (and probably keeping them too)!

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.