Shirley Ward Ely

Born in Worcester, MA on May 8, 1920
Departed on May 15, 2008. Resided in Cedar Rapids, IA.

Memorial

Shirley Mathews Ward "Polly" Ely, 88, of 203 - 23rd Street NE, died at Cottage Grove Place, Thursday, May 15, 2008, after a short illness with breast cancer. Memorial Services: 4 p.m. Saturday, June 7, 2008 at Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist by the Rev. Dr. Marlene R. Walker. Private Inurnment: Oak Hill Cemetery in the Ely Family Mausoleum. Cedar Memorial Westside Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include three children, John M. Ely III and wife Connie of Anamosa, Martha Ely Goralka and husband Joseph of Antioch, CA, and Nathaniel Ward Ely of Madison, WI; two foster sons, Charles M. Hudson of Iowa City and John Thomas of Tucson, AZ; five grandchildren, Elizabeth Ferring-Olson and husband, Gary of Antioch, CA, John T. Ferring and wife, Leah of Cedar Rapids, Victoria Ely-Fee and husband, Kenneth of Roswell, GA, Sarah Ely McCollum and husband, Greg of Myrtle Beach, SC, and John Isaac Ely of Anamosa; thirteen great grandchildren; and a first cousin, Julia Margaret Roberts of Oklahoma.

Polly was preceded in death by her parents; a half-sister, Frances; and her husband, John M. Ely Jr.

Polly was born on May 8, 1920, in Worcester, MA to Nathaniel F. and Grace Mathews Ward. Polly graduated Phi Beta Kappa, Suma Cum Laude from Mt. Holyoke College with a degree in Zoology.
She did graduate work at Wellesley before marrying John M. Ely Jr. of Cedar Rapids, IA in Worcester, MA on June 20, 1942. Polly taught school in New York City prior to her move to Iowa.

A committed civil libertarian in her own right, Polly worked to found and served on the first Cedar Rapids Human Rights Commission now the Civil Rights Commission. She was secretary and lifetime member of the NAACP, served as a counselor at the Cedar Rapids Rape Crisis Center and was instrumental in forming the Hawkeye Chapter of the ACLU in Iowa City. In recognition for John and Polly's contribution to civil liberties the ACLU Foundation of Iowa awarded the Louise Noun Civil Liberties Award to them both at it's May 5, 2007 dinner.

Mrs. Ely was a long-time member of the Peoples Unitarian Universalist Church, serving in many capacities including President of the congregation and its first professional Director of Religious Education, where she inspired dozens of children during her nineteen years of service. She adapted "Rebeka at the Well" for one of the Sunday Schools many 1950's era puppet shows, which she produced with Elizabeth Young. She supported the U.U. church camps for teenagers, chaperoned several camps and was active in denominational affairs particularly with the Prairie Star District. She was an active facilitator of her church covenant group.

Polly was a fervent advocate for peace, was active with Women For Peace and was seen protesting the Vietnam War. Mrs. Ely was selected as an outstanding woman of the year in Linn County in 1981 at the annual Women's Equality Day Celebration, held every August. She was an active supporter of Iowans Against the Death Penalty, an active member of the United Nations Association, and a strong supporter of the Democratic Party and its candidates. She was involved in the founding of the Iowa Medical Aid Fund and served as their first counselor. Polly lived her life as she believed it, visiting people in jail, driving students to Kirkwood, supporting Indian Movement during their Cedar Rapids federal trial in 1975. Polly and her husband John loved the outdoors, visiting Iowa's restored natural prairies, taking spring wildflower walks and were involved in the Iowa Environment Council, the Indian Creek Nature Center, Linn County Trails and more. Until a year ago, she swam several miles a week at the Cedar Rapids YMCA. Most recently she was active in lobbying for RESULTS, appealing to Congress for micro-enterprise, free education for primary schools in developing countries, and the Global Health Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

Polly Ely was a wonderful mother who loved not only her own children, but her foster kids, her foreign exchange students, grandchildren, great grandchildren, the children of her church, her neighborhood and her world.


Memorials may be directed to RESULTS, 400 – 1st Street NW, Suite 450, Washington, D.C., Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist, 600 Third Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401, Iowa Medical Aid Fund, P.O. Box 721, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-0721, and the local chapter of the United Nations Association c/o Fred and Ruth Balster, 344 Forest Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52403-2808.

Service

Cemetery