Elaine Maddy

On November 22, 2023, Elaine Ramona (Bellerive) Maddy entered her heavenly home. She was born October 30, 1946, to Joseph “Joe” Bellerive and the late Eleanor (Newell) Bellerive. She was the first of their seven children. 

She married the love of her life, the late David Vane Maddy, in 1965. They were blessed with the birth of Shiela (Maddy) Davis and 11 months later, David Maddy. They would have to wait four more years for their final baby, Kala (Maddy) Davis. 

Elaine lived an exciting life. Together, Vane and Elaine lived in Lawrence, Kansas; Miami, Florida; Sterling, Virginia; Amman, Jordan; Al Ain, United Arab Emirates; and retired back home to Stockton, Kansas. While living overseas, they traveled to many other countries. She willingly traveled with Vane to any destination he wanted to take her. She continued to travel anywhere and everywhere with friends and family.

Elaine was a homemaker at heart. She was an incredible and adventurous cook. Everyone who enjoyed the pleasure of her hospitality will remember her culinary skills and could taste the love in everything she prepared. She used her sewing talents to make clothes for her brothers and sisters, her children, nieces and nephews, and school plays.

Elaine loved fishing, camping and being outside as much as she did being inside planning the next meal. As a strong and independent woman, she maintained their farm for years. She raised birds of all types and provided many friends and family with fresh eggs. 

Elaine also held many jobs: babysitting, bus driving, school cook, concessions, teacher, para, and daycare food program to name a few. She was in charge of the Welcoming Committee at the American Embassy in Amman, Jordan. There, she also created and ran the video and book exchange program. Elaine was a proud member of the local Red Hat Society.

Elaine was a very religious Catholic woman centering her life around the church. As an active member of the Catholic Church, she served as a Eucharistic Minister in Virginia and Kansas. She was a part of the St. Louis Women’s Club, St. Thomas Alter Society, and St. Thomas Legion of Mary. 

She welcomed the addition of her sons-in-law and especially enjoyed her grandchildren. She helped them in any way she could for as long as she could. They sadly had to return the favor way too soon as a result of her progressing Alzheimer’s disease.

Gardening was her passion. She tended her flower beds until she did not know what they were. She always had a vegetable garden producing plenty to share. She won awards for her arrangements and produce many times over at the Rooks County Free Fair. She also loved to take floral arrangements to the local nursing home. 

Elaine leaves behind her children and their spouses (Shiela & Bill Davis, David Maddy, and Kala & Chris Davis); her grandchildren (Brett Davis, Jacob Davis, and Maddy Davis); her father; all her siblings, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, David Vane Maddy, and her mother, Eleanor Bellerive.

Visitation will be held at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Stockton, Kansas, on Sunday, December 17th, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. with praying of the Rosary and Vigil at 7 p.m. 

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Thomas Catholic Church on Monday, December 18, 2023, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a graveside ceremony and lunch at the Parish Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Elaine’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association at  https://www.alz.org