Mabel Virginia Ower

October 8, 1924 - March 21, 2020

Mabel Ower (Mabel Virginia Ellis) October 8, 1924-March 21, 2020 Our mother, Mabel Virginia Ower, passed into the arms of our Heavenly Father on March 21, 2020. She was born October 8, 1924, on a farm near Richland, Missouri, to Harden Harrison and Grace Ethel Tabor. Having spent her elementary school years in a one-room school house, she then moved on to Richland High School, graduating in 1942. She married her high school sweetheart, Edgar Shelton, on June 13, 1942. Edgar preceded her in death on February 13, 1943, as a World War II casualty in the South Pacific Marshall Islands. Mabel moved on to St. Louis and then Washington, D.C., working as a secretary for the US Army Corps of Engineers. While in Washington she was a spectator at the parade when Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected for his 4th Presidential term. She was also present in Washington on D Day when our troops landed at Omaha Beach. In 1944 she moved to Los Angeles. While there she met and married our father, Leroy Ellis, a recently returned Army veteran of World War II, on August 18, 1945. They moved to Ridgecrest in 1948 and lived there for 31 years. During this time, they raised three children: Ron Ellis, Lee Ellis, and Sharon Ellis. Mabel worked at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center, retiring in 1976. Mabel and Leroy were very active in the Assembly of God Church, helping to build and establish a church in Ridgecrest. Mabel always claimed the Calvary Assembly of God as her home church all the years of her life. She was a Christian since the age of 25. After Leroy’s retirement they moved to the Kern River Valley in 1981. Leroy died November 13th of that year. Mabel was an active member of Grace Chapel in Mountain Mesa. There she met and married Paul Ower on February 6, 1988. Paul preceded her in death on April 29, 2004. Mabel loved to visit national parks, especially Yosemite. She was a member of the Yosemite Conservancy and the Mono Lake Committee. She was also a Life-Time Member of the Sierra Club and the China Lake Museum Foundation. The Ellis family enjoyed many years of camping and traveling to visit the national parks. Mabel was very instrumental in teaching her children and grandchildren about preserving and enjoying our beautiful country and the outdoors. Mabel is survived by her three children, one stepdaughter, four grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, several step grandchildren, and step great grandchildren. Mabel’s long-time caregiver, Delfina Garza, is also a part of our forever family. A graveside service will be held at the Kern Valley Cemetery in Wofford Heights. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to Canyon Hills (canyonhills.com), 7001 Auburn Street, Bakersfield CA 93306 or The Yosemite Conservancy (yosemite.org), 101 Montgomery St., Ste 1700, San Francisco CA 94104-4129. However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” – the things God has prepared for those who love him. 1 Corinthians 2:9 “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel.” – Colossians 1:3-5