Speakers on for Music   Mary Ellen and Dr. Bobby Childree Mary Ellen (age 63) passed away at her home on Thursday, March 12, 2009 after a long illness. She was A Wonderful Christian Lady, Mother, Grandmother, Teacher, Conservative Republican and Friend. She will be missed by her loving family and many friends in Georgia and the 9th District Republican Party. The family will receive friends on Saturday, March 14, at Roper Funeral Home in Jasper, Georgia 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Read more below 206 Holly St Jasper, GA 30143 (706) 253-2454 Get directions the Roper Funeral Home Announcement Line number is 706-253-5353 She is survived by her husband Dr. Bobby R. Childree, two sons and daughters-in-law, one sister, two brothers and one grandson. Funeral Sunday, March 15, at three p.m. --  Jasper First Baptist Church First Baptist Church 198 East Church St. Jasper GA 30143 Get Directions Church Telephone Numbers: - (706)253-5015 Below: A very young and vibrant Mary Ellen     In Loving Memory of Mary Ellen Childree   Message from Dr. Bobby Childree   Funeral plans and viewing times for Mary Ellen Childree   We are honored to gather to celebrate the life of a loved one such as Mary Ellen.  Mary Ellen was a special friend to literally hundreds of people all over the state and even around the world. We could probably meet for weeks and share each other's fondest memories about this wonderful lady and still not say it all. While we will only have a short time together to celebrate her life this weekend, I look forward to your sharing what she meant to you in emails, letters or personal stories for a long time to come.   Her body will lie in state at Roper Funeral Home, 206 Holly Street, Jasper, Ga. 30143. You can use gps or you can also use mapquest for directions, or just ask someone in Jasper where it is. It is near downtown Jasper but not on the main streets. Open viewing hours will be from 6PM to 9PM Saturday, but if you arrive in Jasper earlier in the day you might ask if you may pay her your respects- I'm sure they would let you, and if the guest book is there, please sign it.    The funeral itself will be held at 3 PM Sunday, March 16, at the Jasper First Baptist Church, 198 East Church Street, Jasper, Ga. 30143, in downtown Jasper. This church will seat upwards of 500 people, while our church, Trinity Evangelical Church, would only seat around 200 people. I am grateful to the wonderful folks at First Baptist for making their facility available for Mary Ellen's funeral.   Interment will be at Lake Forest Memorial Park, 280 Camp Road, Jasper, Ga. 30143. The cemetery is not overly large, so it might be best if family and close friends attend this final farewell. Of course she considered most of you as close friends, so if we pack the place, we just do. So if you loved her dearly, join us there. And if you can't, that's fine too.   Karen Dobson, my dental hygienist for many years and dear friend shared the following poem with me, and I wanted to share it with you:     If tomorrow starts without me, And I'm not there to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes all filled with tears for me; I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today, While thinking of the many things, We didn't get to say. I know how much you love me, As much as I love you, And each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too; But when tomorrow starts without me, Please try to understand, that an angel came and called my name, And took me by the hand, And said my place was ready, In heaven far above, And that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly love. But as I turned to walk away, A tear fell from my eye, For all my life, I'd always thought, I didn't want to die. I had so much to live for, So much left yet to do, it seemed almost impossible, that I was leaving you. I thought of all the yesterdays, The good ones and the bad, I thought of all that we shared, And all the fun we had. If I could relive yesterday, Just even for a while, I'd say good-bye and kiss you and maybe see you smile. But then I fully realized, That this could never be, For emptiness and memories, would take the place of me. And when I thought of worldly things, I might miss some tomorrow, I thought of you, and when I did, My heart was filled with sorrow. But when I walked through heaven's gates, I felt so much at home. When God looked down and smiled at me, From His great golden throne, He said, 'This is eternity, And all I've promised you.' Today your life on earth is past, but here life starts anew. I promise no tomorrow, But today will always last, and since each day is the same way, There's no longing for the past. So when tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart, For every time you think of me, I'm right here, in your heart'   Funeral Service Memory click on graphic to enlarge    | Mary Ellen was Truly an Angel Among Us     Web page by Bettye C. March 13, 2009