Obituary of Elaine Cockburn Morell

Elaine (Cockburn) Morell, 89, a retired children's librarian, died May 15, 2017, at her Colorado Springs home.Elaine was fiercely independent, a voracious reader, and beloved by a wide circle of friends.Elaine was born November 21, 1927 in Detroit to William and Barbara (Polson) Cockburn, who emigrated from Scotland. She graduated from Cooley High School in Detroit.She married Richard Morell April 1, 1950 and had three children, Melissa, Charles, and Robert. Elaine worked a variety of jobs to help put Richard through law school. The couple were active in politics in Redford Township, outside of Detroit.The family moved to Colorado Springs in 1967. She later began working for the Pikes Peak Library District in the children's department. She participated in the annual Great Pikes Peak Cowboy Poetry Gathering and in the Kennedy Center's Imagination Celebration activities. She was well-known for donning a costume and reenacting for young readers the life of Chipeta, wife of Chief Ouray of the Ute Tribe.She loved children and was able to connect with young people through her story times at the library. Elaine was active for decades in her church, Faith Presbyterian, serving as a deacon and a faithful volunteer in the church kitchen. She forged close friendships at the church that endured until her death. Elaine had a knack for making and keeping close friendships. For instance, she maintained a lifelong correspondence with Wanda Regula, her best friend in third grade. Over the years, she was in a book club and a monthly dinner gathering. She enjoyed hopping into her 1991 Oldsmobile and driving (quickly!) to church and to pick up friends. She was proud of her Scottish heritage and was well-versed in British history.She maintained a strong connection to Michigan and would occasionally spend a month on Lake Michigan with Rob and her daughter-in-law, Nancy. She particularly enjoyed picking up Petoskey stones on the shores of the lake with her granddaughter, Mary. Her companions later in life were daughter, Melissa (Sam), and her Westie, Tavi. Elaine and Sam enjoyed finding great restaurants for lunch and browsing the racks at TJ Maxx. She also was close to son Charlie, a Colorado Springs contractor. Her youngest son, Rob, is a scientist with the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. She is survived by her three children; two granddaughters, Amy Conklin of Seattle, and Mary Morell of Olney, Maryland; a brother, William Coburn, of Elk Rapids, Michigan; nephews. Bill, Doug, and Jimmy Coburn, all of Michigan; a niece, Linda Merrill of Michigan; and a nephew, Grant Price of New Mexico.Memorial Service, 3:00PM, Monday, June 12, 2017 at Faith Presbyterian Church, 1529 North Circle, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80909.Elaine will be interred 2:00PM, Saturday, July 15, 2017, in the family plot at the Acacia Park Cemetery in Beverly Hills, Michigan.Funeral Home:The Springs Funeral Services3115 East Platte AvenueColorado Springs, , COUS 80909 Events Service Saturday, July 15, 2017 2:00PM Acacia Park Cemetery 31300 Southfield Rd. Beverly Hills, MI 48025 Phone: 248-646-4228 Service Monday, June 12, 2017 3:00PM Faith Presbyterian Church 1529 N. Circle Colorado Springs, CO 80909 Email: terri.b@thespringsfuneralservices.com Phone: 719-328-1793