Jessie Lee Howard Ely, 100, of Lenoir, passed away Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010, at Gateway Nursing Center.

Mrs. Ely was born in Knox County, Ky., to the late John Franklin Howard and Julia Louthen Howard. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gaines Thesel Ely; brothers, Bradley and Guy Howard; a sister, Sallie Howard Smith.

She was a homemaker and a member of First Christian Church in Kentucky.

Survivors include her nieces, Peggy Smith Tomlinson and husband Henry of Lenoir, whom she made her home with for 12 years, Dorothy Broughton, June Richardson, Sally Barber, Judy Gray, Mitzie Gambrel, all of Kentucky, Pauline Graham, Guylia Welch, Loraine Palmer, all of Ohio, and Pat Ely Collingsworth of Oklahoma; her nephews, Guy Howard Jr., Don Howard, Alva Howard and Paul Howard, all of Kentucky.

A graveside service will be held Friday, March 5, 2010, at 2 p.m. at Middlesboro Cemetery in Middlesboro, Ky., with the Rev. Steve Earle officiating.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St., Lenoir, NC 28645.

Online condolences may be placed at www.pendrysfuneralhome.com.

Pendry�s Funeral Home is honored to be serving Mrs. Ely�s family.