Ella Mae Conrad

Ella Mae Conrad, one of four children of John Fayette Simpson and Winnie Golden (Gustin) Simpson, was born April 20, 1929 at Red Oak, Iowa. She attended school and graduated from the Red Oak High School. Her first job was administering a Federal Government Human Resource program in five Southwest Iowa counties. In 1946, Ella Mae and Thomas Lester Fort were married. They were blessed with three children, Gloria, Mary Jane, and Mike. Ella Mae and Thomas later divorced and Ella Mae and her children moved to Emerson to live with her mother. Ella Mae held jobs clerking in the Emerson grocery store and worked as a waitress in several area restaurants.
Ella Mae and Donald Earl Conrad were married in 1959 and became the parents of Tim and Terry. The family moved to Cape Fair, Missouri in 1967 where they leased and operated the Cape Fair Restaurant. In addition to Ella Mae, the three older children worked to help make the family restaurant a success. They later moved to Plattsmouth, Nebraska and Ella Mae began a 19 year career as a resident escort at the Glenwood State Hospital School in Glenwood, Iowa. Ella Mae and Donald later divorced. Ella Mae returned to Emerson to live.
Ella Mae was a member of the Emerson United Methodist Church. Among her enjoyments were making crafts and potpourri and managing her own craft store known as E.G.'S. She also loved to camp and fish.
Ella Mae died April 24, 2005 at the Good Samaritan Center in Red Oak at the age of 76 years and 4 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Harold Simpson and John Simpson; infant sister Caroline Simpson; daughter Mary Jones; and sister-in-law Nettie Robbins.
Ella Mae is survived by her children Gloria Vanderpool of Emerson, Mike Fort and wife Lana of Red Oak, Tim Fort of Emerson, and Terry Conrad and companion Vicki Maschka of Emerson; six grandchildren and five great grandchildren; sister-in-law Ena Mae Simpson; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.