Elizabeth Nellrose Gattenby

Elizabeth Nellrose Gattenby

Elizabeth Nellrose Gattenby was born in Stockton, California to Margareta (Holmes) Ransom and Harold Ransom. She was the second of three children having an older brother, Laurence (Laurie) Ransom and a younger sister, Marilyn Ransom.

Elizabeth was musically gifted in playing the piano and singing. She harmonized beautifully and played piano/organ duets with her mother. As a young girl she was paid to hide in gardens and whistle songs during wedding receptions or bridal showers.

She was an accomplished seamstress and dreamed of making beautiful clothing as a young girl. When she became a mother she often made clothes and costumes for her children. She loved to paint and create and was often called upon to paint holiday windows at different businesses in the Pasadena area and other cities.

Elizabeth married Leon Attebery in 1957 and they had three children: Scott, Wendy and Dana. They settled in the Pasadena area and were very involved in the Nazarene Church.

Elizabeth was a creative soul and she passed that creative talent on to her children.

In the sixties and seventies, she had a Wedding Catering and Planning business in California. She loved putting together all the details of weddings, from creating floral arrangements to coordinating with Mrs. Stockton to create gorgeous wedding cakes, or getting local bakers to bake bread in pastel colors for the tea sandwiches served at the reception so that they would match the bride's wedding scheme. I remember washing dishes, you could say it was my first job (Scott).

She worked for Avon Cosmetics in Pasadena, California for twenty years as a secretary.

Elizabeth and her husband Bill moved to Lake Havasu in 1990. She worked for the State of Arizona Department of Economic Security from 1990 to 2004. Her best friend and coworker Gene Striebeck spent many hours together working for the State of Arizona.

Mom was a case worker for families with handicapped children. She also worked to help the Indian tribes. The work she did with Lake Havasu families meant a lot to her.

Elizabeth is survived by her children: Son, Scott Attebery, his daughters Amanda (Nick) and Kiera; Daughter Wendy Fullmer, son-in-law Jay, their children Maxwell and Katharine; Son Dana Attebery and daughter-in-law Esther; and Marilyn Lyon her sister.