Obituary of Katherine Jean Ellerbe

Katherine Franklin Ellerbe, born March 22, 1943 at Monroe, LA; to the union of her parents, Charlie Bruce Franklin and Alice Lucy Wall Franklin; passed from this life on Friday January 3, 2014 at the Haven Nursing Center in Columbia following an extended illness. Katherine was preceded in death by her parents, by her husband: Donnie Ellerbe; and by her siblings: Euna Mae, Bill, Tom, Bruce, and George. Katherine was a 1961 graduate of Columbia High School and went on to further her education at University of Louisiana, Monroe, then Northeast Louisiana University, obtaining her degree in accounting. Mrs. Ellerbe also won the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D C in 1961. She served as Director for the Northeast Louisiana chapter of the March of Dimes, served as bookkeeper for Donnie Ellerbe Logging, and also served as manager for the News Journal Newspaper in Columbia. One of Katherine's great loves was that of reading. Katherine was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend; and will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her. Left to cherish her memory: her daughter: Donna Ellerbe Holmes of West Monroe, four sons: Donnie Keith Ellerbe and wife Lorrie of Grayson, Kevin Ellerbe and wife Hollie of Grayson, Dan Ellerbe and wife Theresa of Columbia, and Dirk Ellerbe and wife Bridget of Riverton; her brother: Sammy Franklin of Jena; and eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. The Ellerbe Family will receive visitors on Sunday January 5, 2014 at the chapel of Riser Funeral Home in Columbia; from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm. This time of visitation will be a time of remembrance and reflection on the life lived by Katherine Jean (Franklin) Ellerbe. No memorial service is planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be made to the Northeast Louisiana Chapter of the March of Dimes or to the Caldwell Parish Library, Columbia, LA. Online registry/condolences: riserfuneralhomes.com