Elaine Orden

Passed away at her home in Roswell on June 3, 2010 at the age of 63.

Elaine was born on July 5, 1946 in Wichita Falls, Texas to C.E. Todd and Joy Ellamae Michie Dorsey, both of whom preceded her in death.

Elaine is survived by her loving husband, Fred Van Orden, whom she married upon his return from Vietnam on June 14, 1970 at the First United Methodist Church in Roswell.

She is also survived by three sons, Frederic Todd Van Orden and his wife Myrna of Ruidoso, Matthew Wade Van Orden and his wife Lori of Austin, Texas, and Marc Patterson Van Orden and his wife Andrea of Austin, Texas grandchildren, Emma Van Orden, Cole Van Orden, and Kayla Van Orden all of Austin, Texas. She is also survived by her sisters, Joan Dorsey of El Paso, Texas and Ann Brewington of Sand Springs, Oklahoma her motherinlaw, Dorothy Williams of Kerrville, Texas, sisterin Law, Becky Williams of Austin, Texas, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Elaine had been employed as an office assistant at Joyce Ware, CPA and was a member of First United Methodist Church. Elaine was a 1964 honor graduate from Roswell High School. She was a member of the Roswell High School choir, Church youth choir, Order of Rainbow Girls, Miss Wool New Mexico, Girls Athletic Association, and Methodist Youth Fellowship.

She attended the University of New Mexico for 2 years before moving to Washington D.C. to accept a position for a Washington D.C. lobby organization. After which she began her 2nd career as an Army wife, raising 3 sons in 21 different houses in 11 states across 3 continents. In her travels around the world at all the different Army bases, she developed a large string of close friends and extended family. Though Elaine will be greatly missed by her family and friends, she always felt that her extended family included folks from Florida to California, Montana to Mississippi. Special friendships include Lynn and Marilyn Davison, Tucson, Arizona, Craig and Sue Herget, Phoenix, Arizona, John and Sharron Goodrich of Natchez, Mississippi, and Mike and Mary Herron of Abilene, Texas.

The family of Joyce and Dale Ware, Jason Ware, Jarod Ware, Joel Ware, Traci Fowler, and Betty England of Roswell are so close and loved as to be considered extended family. Any other inlaws, outlaws, cousins, and kin not mentioned are purely the fault of her husband Freds poor memory but are surely not forgotten.

Pallbearers will be Todd Van Orden, Matt Van Orden, Marc Van Orden, Jason Ware, Jarod Ware, Joel Ware, Lynn Davidson, Craig Herget, and Mike Herron. Funeral Services are scheduled for 2:00 pm on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at the First Methodist Church. Services will be conducted by Rev. Gorton Smith of the First Methodist Church.

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