Obituary of Larry Lee Elliott

Larry Lee Elliott was born October 8th, 1940, on a farm three miles north of Fredericksburg, Iowa to Mildred (Small) and Glen Elliott. He attended the country school through 8th grade and then attended Fredericksburg High School where he graduated as valedictorian in the class of 1958.  He was baptized in the Church of the Brethren, in May 1950.  Larry then attended and graduated from McPherson College in 1962 with a Business and Economics degree.  In September of 1962, he began his two years of Brethren Volunteer Service witnessing to his strong belief in peace.  He worked in Garkida, Nigeria in the Business Office for Church of the Brethren Mission until September 1964.  While in Nigeria, he fell in love with the land, the people, and his church work.  He returned to McPherson College in McPherson, Kansas as an assistant in the business office.  
In 1965, he married Donna McBride also from Fredericksburg, Iowa, who was his longtime sweetheart.  After living a few months in McPherson, Kansas they went to Nigeria to serve with the Church of the Brethren Mission (CBM). Larry became business manager treasurer for CBM for the next 9 years.  During that time, his two daughters were born: Deanna Sue in 1968 and Julie Kay in 1970.  In 1975, he became the Field Representative and moved from Garkida (a small rural village) to Jos, Nigeria where there was better communication to the U.S.  He remained the Field Representative until July 1988 when the family moved back to the U.S..  Larry and Donna settled in Mt. Morris, Illinois where Larry was the Sales and Marketing Director at Pinecrest Village, a Church of the Brethren retirement center. He retired from there in January 2005 after having a brain tumor in October 2004.  
Larry was an avid reader and loved flower gardening. He also enjoyed hiking, traveling, and sports. He especially loved watching the Iowa Hawkeyes football and basketball teams, the McPherson College Bulldogs, and any sports his grandchildren were involved in! Larry and Donna moved to Fort Collins, Colorado in June 2013, living near their daughter Deanna and her family.  They travelled frequently to Dolores, Colorado to visit their daughter Julie and her family.  
Larry passed on October 5th, 2022, surrounded by his family.  He had a great love for God and his family.  He loved having everyone together for holidays and celebrations, including a few trips to Kauai with all the family! 
He is survived by his wife, Donna, his daughters, Deanna (Dean) and Julie (Bryan); as well as, grandchildren Brett (Annie), Sami (Taylor), Lexy, Kristin, Teegan (Jonathan), and Brennan.  Memorials will be given in his name to Ekklesiyar Yanawa a Nigeria (EYN) and Disaster Ministries for Church of the Brethren.

To send a memorial gift to Brethren Disaster Ministries go to https://churchofthebrethren.givingfuel.com/bdm

To send a memorial gift to Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria), c/o Global Mission, go to https://churchofthebrethren.givingfuel.com/all-ministries and choose “Global Mission: All” in the “Fund” box, then write “EYN” in the “Additional Gift Notes” box.

To contribute to a fund to rebuild EYN churches that have been destroyed by Boko Haram and other violence, go to https://churchofthebrethren.givingfuel.com/all-ministries and choose “Nigeria Church Rebuilding” in the “Fund” box.

*PLEASE DISREGARD BELOW SECTION*