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Deanna Kay ElyPassing: May 12, 2024

Service:

Chastain Funeral Home

Funeral Service

Friday, May 17th @ 10:30am

Visitation:

Chastain Funeral Home

Thursday, May 16th @ 4:00pm-7:00pm

Friday, May 17th @ 9:30am-10:30am

Cemetery:

Mitchell Cemetery

Friday, May 17th

MITCHELL – Deanna Kay Ely, 77, passed away on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12, 2024, surrounded by loved ones, holding her hands, at home in Mitchell.

Born September 25, 1946, in Orange County, she was the daughter of Oral E. and Marjorie (Cassidy) Luchauer.  Kay married James I. Ely on January 16, 1981 in Mitchell and he preceded her in death April 27, 2011.

Kay was a 1964 graduate of Mitchell High School and a life-long resident of Mitchell.  She retired from Dunn Memorial Hospital after 30 years of service where she worked in administration.  Kay loved gardening, painting, crafts, animals, and especially spending time with her grandchildren.

Surviving are her children, Patsy (Byron) Smith of South Carolina, Paul (Cassie) Terry of Orleans, and James D. (Sara) Terry of Mitchell – Sara was her caretaker for many years; grandchildren, Tyler Conway, Derrick Cook, Miranda Terry, Megan Terry, Daniel Terry, Ethan Terry, Isaac Terry, and Briana Crossland; six great-grandchildren; siblings, Mike (Valerie) Luchauer of Bedford, Lynn “Luke” (Ginny) Luchauer of Center Point, Iowa, and Doug (Sandy) Luchauer of Garrett; sister-in-law, Brenda Luchauer of Mitchell; and several nieces and nephews.

Her parents; husband; and brother, Oral L. Luchauer, preceded her in death.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 17, in the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home & Cremation Center with Bradley Conner officiating.  Burial will be in Mitchell Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Thursday and from 9:30 a.m. until the service on Friday at the funeral home.

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6 Guest Comments

  1. Guest: Jonna Pemberton | MITCHELL
    Date: May 16, 2024
    Sending prayers to Patsy, Paul and Jimmy. I'm so sorry for the loss of your Mother. She was a very sweet and caring lady. She will be missed by everyone who loved her including her step children Jim, Jonna, Raymond and Rhonda and their children and grandchildren. Dad loved her very much and she loved him too. RIP Kay!
  2. Guest: Terri Briscoe | Bedford, IN
    Date: May 15, 2024
    Worked with Kay for many years. Kay was a blessing she was always kind to everyone. I feel blessed to have worked with her. My love & prayers to her family
  3. Guest: Joyce M. Jeffries | Bloomington IN
    Date: May 15, 2024
    I met Kay when I joined the Senior Renewal Program at Dunn Hospital. She was a wonderful lady, had a good sense of humor and I really felt I'd known her for ages. She loved her family and her dog and talked about all of them a lot. It was clear she really loves them. I was thinking of Kay last week and meant to call her, but time got away from me and I am so sorry I didn't call, I would have loved to talk to her again. She will be missed by many people. My love and prayers to all her family. May God give you peace and happy memories of your time with her.
  4. Guest: Dawn Lessig | Mitchell
    Date: May 14, 2024
    So sorry for your loss. Love and prayers to you and yours.
  5. Guest: Brenda Mckain | Brownstown, In
    Date: May 14, 2024
    Brenda, all family and friends: All volunteers of Lawrence County Cancer Patient Services are so sorry for your loss.
  6. Guest: Jade Ann Luchauer | Brownsburg, Indiana
    Date: May 14, 2024
    I have so many wonderful memories of Aunt Kay. As kids we were so lucky to have years of Easter Egg hunts at her house. It was the premier Luchauer event of the year. She made special eggs and had prizes among the 30 plus dozen eggs we gathered to color the Friday night before. I’m still mad that I never scored the Gold sequin egg. When I was 10 years old I had tonsil surgery at Dunn Hospital and I thought I was a VIP because my aunt Kay worked there and came to see me. She knew everyone! I always asked people throughout my life if they knew my aunt Kay, only to find out recently that most folks there knew her as Deanna. 😁 She was witty, funny, and the kindest person you’ll ever meet. Like her, I share a passion for crafts, flowers, animals, and yard sales. I’m grateful for the memories she created for us and hope she is having a wonderful time in Heaven reuniting with everyone who passed before and all her beloved pets.