Ellen Eilene McRae Osterbauer
July 10, 1929 - October 31, 2020
Ellen Eilene McRae Osterbauer, our sweet mother and grandmother, quietly and comfortably left this life on October 31, 2020, after many years of suffering with dementia.
We, her “Dearest Children”, are profoundly grateful our mother taught us that she would be welcomed into heaven by her husband, daughter, son, brother, parents, great-granddaughter, grandparents, friends, and many others who loved, adored, and cherished her.
Ellen was born to Ora Theron “Jerry” and Wilda Wimmer McRae on July 10, 1929, in Los Angeles, California, just before the onset of the Great Depression. Her dear brother Garry was born three years later and the two were close throughout their lives. When Garry later married his sweetheart, Ann, our mother was grateful for a sister. With few material possessions or comforts of life, they all learned about the love of family and friends.
Our mother enjoyed school and extracurricular activities, including church dances. She was elected President of Tri Y in her teen years and was also the winner of the American Legion Award.
In 1948, at the age of 19, she married Herbert Lester Gleason in the Saint George Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. By 1953, she had five children under the age of three. She won the title of “Queen for a Day” on TV after reciting the following original poem:
“My five children under three
Keep me busy as can be.
Hanging wash, ten lines a day
Doesn’t leave much time to play.
But with a dryer, sakes alive,
I might have time to rock my five!”
She was grateful to win a washer and dryer and a rocking chair to help her in the nurturing of her children, and the eternal promise of motherhood.
Ellen and Herb had six more children before they divorced in 1968. Ellen and her 11 children moved into her beloved parents’ small but lovely home in Manhattan Beach, California. With the ministering and support of loving angels from the Manhattan Beach Ward, our family experienced heavenly healing through the example and love of others, and by the strength found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
On a particularly difficult day, after being dismissed from her job at a bank, Mother sobbed as she sat alone in the vault for hours. She wondered what she could possibly do to help her 11 children survive. Through God’s grace and the support of her dear mother, Ellen began her college career at El Camino College with her best friend Mona. She pursued both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Pepperdine University on a scholarship. She graduated in 1973 as her children and first grandchild witnessed and learned from her example of dedication, perseverance, and the priceless value of education.
After her graduation, Ellen taught History for a year at Pacific Continuation School in Manhattan Beach. At a church dance, she met her dear Ralph Osterbauer. He didn’t bat an eye when he heard she had 11 children; instead, he only responded, “Oh, I’ve always wanted a large family.” The two were married three months later on December 30, 1974.
Ellen moved her family to Downey, California where she lived for the next 45 years. At the age of 50, she obtained a second Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Counseling. With this added diploma, she continued to bless her posterity by solidifying her example of endurance, and life-long learning.
She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, never wavering in her faith. She had many callings in the Downey First Ward and enjoyed serving others and sharing her testimony of Jesus Christ. She especially enjoyed teaching, singing, leading the music, and serving others with meals, beautiful cakes, listening ears, and quiet acts of love and grace.
Ellen and Ralph were sealed for time and eternity in the Los Angeles Temple on December 27, 1986 and when she slipped into eternity, she had a current Temple Recommend.
Her tea parties, backyard swim parties, family parties, plays like “Little Women”, and parodies taken from all the classic musicals will never be forgotten. Her front door was always opened to “all” who entered. Ellen enjoyed laughing, talking, visiting, and showering guests and family with cookies, cakes, pies, fudge, yummy meals, more fudge and love.
Together, Ellen and Ralph raised 14 children including Donald, Paul and Alan Osterbauer, Barbara (Eric) Roberts, Mary (Jim) Petty, Eilene (Ron) Baker, Robert (Cindy) Gleason, Richard (Lori) Gleason, Melynda Gleason, Rachel Gleason-Mittleman, Martha (Dean) Michael, Melissa (David) Williams, John (Julie) Gleason, Thomas (Rebecca) Gleason.
In addition to their children, Ellen and Ralph also loved their 38 grandchildren and 44 great-grandchildren and all those who were welcomed into their family.
Our family would like to thank the many angels who provided love and care for our dear mother, including The Homestead Assisted Living, Brio Hospice, and Eckersell Mortuary in Idaho, and Allen, English, and Estrada Mortuary in California.
Thank you, Mother for crossing the Sweetwater River ever so many times for us!
“Come sit with me” because “YOU are my sunshine.”
