Earl And Norma Ellington

     Teresa Jacka, Patricia Ellington, and their families invite you to join them at the graveside service for Earl Franklin and Norma Jean Ellington (Hunt). The burial service will be held at 11:30 AM on June 21st at Jones Cemetery, 159 Old River Rd, Salt Lick, KY.

     Earl Ellington (November 15, 1933 - June 14, 2016) was born at home between Salt Lick and Olympia, KY; in a small simple, weathered, frame house to Lindsay R. and Hazel R. (Peck) Ellington. Earl and his siblings have many cherished memories of their childhood days in Kentucky and continued to remain close even though their work and travels did take them to many parts of the world.

     Norma Ellington (March 11, 1935 - January 24, 2022) was born to Henry and Naomi Hunt (Sorrell) in Salt Lick, Kentucky. As an only child, she was always surrounded by extended family at her grandparents, Grace and Clifford Wills, house close to the old Salt Lick school.

     Earl and Norma Jean met in high school. He was the basketball timekeeper, and she was score keeper. Earl remembered Norma from when she was in first grade and he was in third grade, but he did not think that she knew he existed until he came back to Salt Lick for his senior year of high school where at a high school dance, they decided to take a chance on each other. While dating, Norma and Earl had serious discussions concerning their goals and their future with a focus on family and education. They were married the summer of 1953. Their family grew to include daughters, Teresa Jacka and Patty Ellington, sons-in-law, David Jacka and Mike Hill; grandchildren and their spouses, Jeff Jacka (Liz), Jennifer Jancich (Bryan), James Babcock, Sarah Elizabeth Schmidt (Jim); and great-grandsons, Bentley and Bennet Jancich. Earl and Norma enjoyed sharing with the family the beauties of the oceans, camping, cross-country travel, annual reunions with stories of the family, and many picnics which always included watermelon.

     Earl achieved his educational goals, receiving his B.S. degree from the University of Kentucky in 1955 with emphases in Animal Science, Agronomy, Ag Education, and Biology. He received an M.S. in Reproductive Physiology from the University of Kentucky in 1956 and obtained a Ph.D. in Animal Physiology from the University of California-Davis in 1962. His involvement in university teaching included both Oregon State University (1962-1968), the University of Nebraska (1968-2022) and served as Assistant and Associate Dean in the College of Agriculture. Later in his career he took short-term international assignments in Africa, China, and Costa Rica.

     Norma was an active member in her community and was passionate about protecting the people and land within it. She was instrumental in the movement to keep the Oregon beaches open to the public and coastlines free from commercial properties. Norma used her unwavering positivity, her love of community, and her knowledge of the current housing market during her 37 years as a Realtor in the Lincoln, Nebraska area. Her clients frequently commented on her commitment to providing excellent service while ensuring they were getting the home of their dreams. She was the realtor of choice in many families for multiple generations. Her drive and dedication earned her the Top Realtor of the Year award numerous times throughout her career.

     Earl and Norma are survived by daughters Teresa and husband David Jacka, Patricia Ellington and husband Mike Hill, grandchildren, Jeff Jacka (Liz), Jennifer Jancich (Bryan), James Babcock, Sarah Elizabeth Schmidt (Jim), and great-grandsons, Bentley and Bennet Jancich. Earl’s siblings including R.W. Ellington (Ginny), Vivian Hogge, Arye Dethmers, and Evelyn Sallee (Sam). They are predeceased by Earl’s parents, Lindsay and Hazel Ellington, and Norma’s parents, Henry Hunt, Naomi Sorrell (Hunt) and Dee Sorrell, Earl’s sibling, Lindsay Ellington Jr., and their brothers-in law Fred Hogge and Donald Dethmers. 

     Both Earl and Norma will be missed by their family, friends and colleagues. Please help keep their memory alive by attending the burial service.

     Graveside services for Earl and Norma will be conducted Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 11:30 AM in Jones Cemetery with Rev. Eddie Dennison officiating.

      Online memorial and guestbook available at www.powellfhsaltlick.com.

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