Mary Ellen Bentley believed in God's promises, and John 3:16 is the promise of eternal life. During the early morning hours of February 13, her soul ascended to her eternal home.

Mary Ellen was born to Perry and Pauline Gooch on a summer day in 1931 in Logan County, Kentucky. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, and her husband, Ellis, whom she was married to for 63 years. She is survived by her only sister, Ann Preske (Marvin), and her only living sister-in-law, Marcella Bentley; her children Judy Skees (Jim) and David Bentley (Charlann), four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Her servant's heart brought joy to others by working in the nursery at Eastwood Baptist Church, helping with VBS, and serving at bereavement dinners. In addition, she was a Cub Scouts den mother to her son and his friends.

Her work ethic was developed early as she grew up on a farm. She took pride in her work to the point of perfectionism. She was a talented and meticulous seamstress. Her first and favorite job was being a switchboard operator for South Central Bell. She also worked for Jim Coles' Rodes Silk Screen Printing Company. In this job, she used a zigzag stitch around Greek letters on t-shirts and also on the flags being flown at WKU football games. Her last job was as a devoted BGJHS cafeteria worker for several years.

She was a devoted friend and faithful daughter of the Lord. As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she led by example. She will be missed but will always remain in our hearts.

Her family thanks God for the lives she impacted even after her diagnosis of dementia. We thank her loving, caring, and dedicated caregivers who allowed her to remain in her own home. We have great appreciation for her in-home Hospice team, along with the care she received at the Hospice House. We also thank the Eastwood community who remembered her with cards, visits, gifts, and seasonal home clean-ups.

Visitation will be from 9 am to 11 am at Eastwood Baptist Church on Monday, February 16. Her celebration of life will begin at 11 am. Private burial will be at Maple Grove Cemetery in Russellville.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of memorial contributions to  Eastwood Baptist Church (Local Missions) or Hospice of Southern Kentucky.

Johnson Vaughn Phelps Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.