Maryellen Culp

FLORENCE - MaryEllen Culp, 70, of Florence died on March 2, 2015.

Mrs. Culp was born on Aug. 15, 1944, in Clark, New Jersey, and was a daughter of Paul and Cortna Billings. She grew up in New Jersey, then earned a degree in nursing at Duke University and became a registered nurse. Her class of ’66 was a meaningful presence in her life through lifelong friends she cared deeply about. After spending some time working in the Washington, D.C., area she moved out west to Denver, where she met and married her husband, Wes. The family later moved to Washington state, where she spent a number of years in various nursing jobs before being forced to retire due to complications from lupus.

She moved to Sierra Vista in 1999 and then to Florence in 2013 to be near her son, daughter in-law and grandchildren. She was an accomplished basket maker along with pursuing other crafts. The last 25 years of her life were medically challenging as her battle with lupus took difficult turns and involved many hospital and rehab stays including several surgeries. Through it all she maintained a positive outlook and was always supportive of others. She had a strong faith and attended Mosaic Church of the Nazarene in Florence. Relationships with her relatives, friends old and new and continuing concerns for their well being were very important to her.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Billings, and is survived by her husband of 47 years; a son, Scott Culp; a brother, Jed Billings; and three grandchildren.

The celebration of life will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud Coolidge Chapel, followed by a wake at a private home.