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Theresa "Terri" H. McEllhiney, 81, of Manhattan, passed away on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at the Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community- Sloan House.

She was born September 27, 1930, in Evanston, Indiana; the daughter of Herman Phillip Hessig and Marie Dorothy Ficker Hessig.  She grew up in Tell City, Indiana and attended the local schools, graduating from Tell City High School in 1948.  She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from Purdue University in 1952.  Terri moved to Manhattan in 1979 coming from California where she lived for 20 years, and also for four years in Omaha, Nebraska.

She was married to Robert Ross "Bob" McEllhiney on February 22, 1952 in West Lafayette, Indiana, and were together for 54 glorious years, he preceded her in death on April 28, 2006.

Terri was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, Masonic Youth Groups, Crafty Seniors, the Konza Quilting Guild from 1987 to present, was a guardian for Job's Daughters for 10 years in Los Angeles and 4 years in Omaha.  Her love for gardening, baking, sewing and quilting were ever present.

Terri taught school for a short time, did alternations for many years, she taught quilting classes in 1969 in Los Angeles.  After moving to Manhattan she became manager of So-Fro Fabrics for 15 years, and continued work ing for JoAnn's Fabric until her retirement in 2009 working at the same store for over 29 years.  If the saying is true "She who dies with the most fabric wins.", then Terri won.

She is survived by her son, Ross McEllhiney and his wife, Deidre, Shawnee;  three daughters, Karen Paris and her husband, David, Universal City, Texas; Mona McGregor, Omaha, Nebraska, and Loretta McEllhiney and her husband, Antonio James, Leadville, Colorado; a sister, Rose Mullis, Fulda, Indiana; three brothers, Bernard Hessig, St. Croix, Indiana; Hilary Hessig, Dale, Indiana and Hilbert Hessig, St. Menard, Indiana;  five grandchildren, Stephanie Doran, Texas; Melanie McGregor, Omaha; Dedan McEllhiney, Shawnee; Elise McEllhiney, Shawnee and Mark Brown, and his wife, Azalea, California.   She was also preceded in death by her husband Bob and parents.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, November 19, 2011 at the Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home with Pastor Larry Fry officiating.  Cremation will follow with a private family inurnment at a later date in the Fairview  Cemetery,  Francisco, Indiana.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Robert R. and Theresa H. McEllhiney Scholarship Fund for the Department of Grain Science-KSU Foundation and made be left in care of the Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home, 1317 Poyntz Ave., Manhattan, Kansas  66502.

A gathering of family and friends will be from 6 until 8:00 p.m. Friday at the Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home.