Ella Mae Mason-Manske was born to Jacob and Minnie (Richards) Schmit on February 14, 1936 at Beatrice, Nebraska.  She grew up in Beatrice and graduated from St. Joseph Catholic School in 1954.  

She was united in marriage to Myron Eugene Mason on Sept. 3, 1956 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Beatrice.  After her marriage, Ella Mae converted to the Methodist faith and became a member of the United Methodist Church in Tecumseh. To this union five daughters were born.  Gene passed away suddenly on Jan. 9, 1993.   

Ella Mae assisted Gene on the farm and also worked as a cook for over 25 years at the St. Andrew Catholic School in Tecumseh and later for Tecumseh Public Schools/JCC.   She also managed The Cream Station in Tecumseh, which later became Fraziers.  Ella Mae enjoyed painting, sewing, reading, drawing, playing games on her Kindle, watching westerns on T.V., collecting Elvis memorabilia, playing cards with the card club and singing in the United Methodist Church Choir.  Ella Mae was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Vesta Educational Club, where she held several offices over the years.  

 Ella married Stanley Manske on Feb. 17, 1996 at the United Methodist Church in Tecumseh.  Stan passed away Oct. 17, 2012.  

 Ella Mae passed away suddenly May 6, 2015 at the St. Elizabeth’s Regional Medical Center in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 79 years.

She is survived by her daughters, Betty Davis and husband Roger of Tecumseh, Judy Warren and husband Lloyd of Beatrice, Virginia Mason of Norfolk, Beverly Viers and husband Steve of Papillion and Janet Dieckgrafe and husband Tom of Cook, step-children, Jeff Manske and wife Julie of Roca and Gail West and husband Scott of Martell, brother, Ralph Schmit and wife Renee of                  , eight grandchildren,  Kyle Waddle, Russell Davis, James Warren and wife Japhia, Jeffrey Dieckgrafe and fiancee’ Shasta Christner, Josh Dieckgrafe, Erin Viers and fiancee’ Josh Tiedgen, Tyler Viers and Kodee Viers, step-grandchildren, Katie, Will and Calvin West, Jesse Manske and Josh Manske and wife Cassie, great-grandchildren, Kamdyn and Kypton Warren and Mason Tiedgen, step-great-grandchild, Emma Manske.  

Ella Mae was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Eugene and Stanley, brother-in-law, Dale Mason and parents-in-law, Myron and Thelma Mason.  

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 11, 2015 at the United Methodist Church in Tecumseh, Nebraska, with Rev. Rob Clark officiating.    Visitation will be held at the Wherry Mortuary, Sunday, May 10, 2015 from 1-8 p.m., with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m.   Memorials may go to the family’s choice.  Interment will be in the Vesta Cemetery, rural Tecumseh, Nebraska.   Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.