Mary Ellen Windings

VILLA RIDGE, Ill. -- Mary Ellen Windings, 74, of Villa Ridge passed away at 3:08 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, at her residence.

Mary Ellen was born April 14, 1942, at Pulaski, Illinois, daughter of the late Fred Jennings Allen Sr. and Eileen Elice (Leewright) Allen.

Mary Ellen was a member of the Caledonia Community Church in Olmsted, Illinois, where she was the church pianist and served as the church treasurer for 20-plus years. She was a founder and board member of the Caledonia Christian Academy in Olmsted.

Mary Ellen was a bookkeeper for the Meridian School District #101 in Mounds for 25-plus years and served as a bookkeeper for Mark Twain Real Estate for 15 years in Olive Branch, Illinois. Mary Ellen was a music teacher for many years and was a second mom to countless kids in the community over the years.

Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, Fred J. Allen Sr. and Eileen Elice Allen, and two brothers, Fred J. Allen Jr. and his wife, Louise Allen, and Gary Ray Allen.

On April 15, 1960, she married Carl Eugene "Pete" Windings, who preceded her in death Oct. 6, 2014.

Survivors include three sons, John (Jenny) Windings of Metropolis, Illinois, and James Windings and Jerald "Boobie" (Beth) Windings, both of Villa Ridge; grandchildren, Christopher, Caleb and Conner Windings, Lauren (Dan) Hansen, Adam Windings, Jacob Windings, Heather Crecelius and Tiffany Hunt; three great-grandchildren, Elaina and Oliver Hansen and Bryce Windings; three half-brothers, Brian (Penny) Allen of Florida, Randy (Sherry) Allen of Southeast Missouri and Bob (Chrissy) McMellan of South Bend, Indiana; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Jones Funeral Home in Villa Ridge.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with Pastor Dean Hamilton and family friend Danny Hartline officiating.

Interment will follow in the Liberty Cemetery east of Pulaski.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of memorials to the Caledonia Christian Academy, 10070 Highway 37, Olmsted, IL 62970 in memory of Mary Ellen Windings.

To leave online condolences, visit jones-funeral.com.