Ellen May (Cutler) Haase

Ellen May (Cutler) Haase, 90, of Benton Harbor died Tuesday, July 31, 2012 in the Hospice unit at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Services celebrating her life will be held at 1 PM on Saturday, August 4, at the Fairplain Chapel of Florin Funeral Service in Benton Harbor. Burial will be at Crystal Springs Cemetery. The family will receive friends and relatives from 5 PM to 7 PM on Friday at the Fairplain Chapel with an Eastern Star Service at 7 PM. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 475 Green Ave, Benton Harbor. Please share memories, messages or photos at www.florin.net. Ellen was born 6 June 1922 in Mattoon, IL to Granville and Margaret (Berry) Cutler. The family moved to Benton Harbor area when she was a small child. She married Nathan “Nate” Haase on October 24, 1943. They were married for 67 years. They had one daughter, Natha. Ellen was a 1940 graduate of Benton Harbor High School where she played cornet in the Benton Harbor High School Girls Band, as well as performing in plays and operettas. Ellen had a beautiful contralto voice and performed solos in many churches and Eastern Star Chapters. Ellen was an accomplished seamstress. She designed and sewed many ballet recital costumes for her daughter, Natha. Ellen enjoyed knitting and she made many sweaters, gloves, mittens and hats. As a volunteer, she knitted more than 3000 hats for babies born in the neo-natal unit at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. Ellen was a member of Colonial Chapter #319, Order of the Eastern Star where she was secretary of the Chapter for over 30 years and was Worthy Matron in 1969. She also served terms as president of the P.T.A. at Henry C. Morton Elementary School and Benton Harbor Junior High School, and the Pink Slipper Club. She also worked as an Election Inspector for more than 50 years. She was preceded in death by her husband Nathan “Nate” Haase in March, 2011; father Granville R. Cutler; mother Margaret (Berry) Cutler; her brother Granville B. Cutler; and her sisters-in-law, Betty (Erickson) Cutler, Mildred (Haase) Anderson, and Doris (Haase) Haka-Breadlow. She is survived by her daughter Natha (Martin “Joe”) Olds, of Coldwater, MI; grandson, Lloyd Martin “Bub” Olds, MI; granddaughter, Antonia “Toni” (Daniel) Buckley, WA; great grandsons, Matthew Olds, IL, Jax C. Buckley, WA; great granddaughters, Andie Rae and Remi Elle Buckley, WA; brother-in-law William, Jr. (T. Rae) Haase, of IN; nephews, Roger (Fran) Haka, CA, William (Connie) Haase, 3rd, MI, Jerald Anderson, MI; nieces, Dr. Mary L. Cutler, MN, Joy (Alan) Hettig, MI; great nieces Ann Marie (Corey) Schaub, OH, Shelby Anderson and Grace LI-Ellen Haase, MI; and great nephews Edward (Laura) Hettig, MI, Shane (Samantha) Haase, MI, and Nathan (Jessica) Haase, IL; great-grand nieces and great-grand nephews; and all of her friends in the congregation of the First Presbyterian Church and wonderful friends and neighbors.

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Ellen May (Cutler) Haase

June 6, 1922 - July 31, 2012