Dr. Ellen Kay Carson, 54, of Girard, joined our Heavenly Father at 11:35 A.M., Sunday, January 16, 2011 ending her battle with cancer at Via Christi in Pittsburg.
She was the youngest of six children born to Lyle and Geneva (Stewart) Shipman on March 29, 1956 in Pittsburg, Kansas.
She was a member of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Girard and served as elder and participated in choir. Her true passion was educating nurses which she began at Fort Scott Community College in 1983. She then taught 17 years at Pittsburg State University and currently taught at Washburn University. In 2010 while at Washburn, she received the Faculty of Excellence of the New Millennium. She served as State President of Kansas State Nurses Association from 2005 to 2007, was a member of Sigma Theta Tau (Nursing Honor Society), and received numerous awards for her leadership and mentorship.
She attended grade school at Crawford Country School and then Girard Elementary. She graduated Girard High School in 1974. She received her BSN from Pittsburg State University, her Masters from University of Kansas, and her Ph.D. from University of Arkansas.
On May 27, 1978, she entered in marriage to Marlin L. Carson at the First Presbyterian Church in Girard. Survivors include husband, Marlin Carson of Girard; one daughter, Lindsay and Aaron Young of Wichita; one son, Grant and Tosha Carson of Girard; three sisters, Luanne Brennan of Glen Ellyn, Illinois; Carol Marie Shaw of Billings, Montana; and Nora Eng of San Antonio, Texas; one brother, Phillip Shipman of Girard; aunts, Laura Stewart, Vera Dalrymple, Loretta Cortner, Corene and Ray Shaffer, and Uncle Ira Johnston; and numerous cousins.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Leroy Shipman; and parents, Lyle and Geneva Shipman.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday at First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Girard with Rev. Doug Amend officiating. Celebration service only.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to First Christian Church of Girard or Kansas Nurses Foundation Scholarship benefiting Pittsburg State University and Washburn University nursing students. These may be left at the Carson-Wall funeral Home, 518 W St. John, Box 258, Girard 66743.
