Elaine Mary Carson

MILLSBORO - Elaine Mary Carson, of Millsboro, formerly of Bowie, Md., passed away on Thursday, March 13, 2008, in her home from abdominal mesothelioma, a rare cancer.

She was born in Milwaukee on Sept. 10, 1939, to CWO-4 Raymond and Mary Anderson.

After her father returned from three years in the South Pacific during World War II, she, her parents and siblings were stationed at military assignments in the U.S., Germany and Okinawa.

In 1961, Elaine married Clark R. Carson Sr., whom she met while living in Washington, D.C.

They were married at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington and lived in the Washington area with the exception of a tour of duty in Wiesbaden and Frankfurt, Germany.

Upon retirement in 1992 they moved to Brandywood in Millsboro.

Elaine worked as a secretary for various federal agencies, including the White House and the Agency for International Development.

Her employment before moving to Delaware was with the corporate offices of Amtrak at Union Station, Washington.

Upon her move to Delaware, she devoted her time to volunteer work with Read Aloud Delaware and Green Valley Nursing Home.

Elaine was an avid reader and enjoyed reading to pre-school children at day care centers.

She also worked part time as a paraprofessional with the Cape Henlopen School system.

Elaine was preceded in death by sister, Marlene English of Virginia Beach, Va. in 2006.

She is survived by her loving husband of 46 years, Clark R. Carson Sr.; four children, Diane Elaine Johnston of Bradenton, Fla., Clark R. Carson Jr. of Elkridge, Md., Christine Marie Ferralli and her husband Jeffrey of Charlottesville, Va., and Daniel Bruce Carson of Washington, D.C.; ten grandchildren; her sister, Judi Runkle of Wilson, N.C.; brother, Robert Anderson of Woodbridge, Va.; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The funeral mass and wake will be 11 a.m. Monday in St. Jude's Catholic Church, Lewes, where friends may all after 10:30 a.m.

Interment will be at the Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Dagsboro, immediately following the funeral Mass.

Instead of flowers, contributions can be made to Read Aloud Delaware, P.O. Box 60, Georgetown, DE 19947, for the purchase of books; St. Edmund's Catholic Church, Enhancement Campaign, 409 King Charles and Laurel streets, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971; or to Delaware Hospice, 20167 Office Circle, Georgetown, DE 19947.

Arrangements by Melson Funeral Services of Long Neck.