CONCORD — Ellie Mae Rees, 86, Concord, died Feb. 20, 2024, at her residence.

Funeral services were Feb. 26 at the Evangelical Free Church, Concord, with the Rev. Todd Thelen officiating. Burial was at the Concord Cemetery, Concord. Visitation was Monday morning, at church. Arrangements were under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Laurel.

Pallbearers were Richard Rees, Jim Rees, Jeff Rees, Brian Rees, Alex Barbosa-Rewinkel, Sebastian Barbosa and Koinn Rees.

Ellie Mae Mary was born March 5, 1937, in Scribner, to Ferdinand and Helen (Matejka) Kleeman. She grew up in Webster and Hooper, graduating from Hooper High School in 1955. Ellie Mae attended a semester at Wayne State Teacher’s College. She married Richard Thomas Rees, July 11, 1955, in Vermillion, S.D. They moved to Concord in 1963. Seven children were born to this union – Randy, Jennifer, Richard, James, Jeff, Brian and Brenda. Ellie Mae and Richard later divorced. She remained in Concord for the rest of her life. Ellie Mae worked at Gibson, Pamida, and then Shopko, Wayne, for many years, and she sewed jackets for the Wayne Sporting Goods Store. Ellie Mae also worked at Wittig’s Grocery and at Walbaum’s for a while.

She was an avid sewer and quilter, loved to read, raised a garden and canned and froze her produce.

Ellie Mae is survived by her six children, Jennifer (Tom) Lockhart, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Richard Rees, Concord; James (Peggy) Rees, Concord; Jeff (Linda) Rees, Arizona City, Ariz.; Brian (Lori) Rees, Lincoln; Brenda Rewinkel, Lincoln; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one sister, Betty Bothwell, Concord.

Ellie Mae was preceded in death by her parents, and son, Randal.