Elva Miller Collins Ryall

CAMBRIDGE - Elva Miller Collins Ryall, 91, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2007 at the Mallard Bay Care Center in Cambridge.

She was born at Princess Anne on Sept. 14, 1916 and was a daughter of the late Oran Harrison and Alice Gibbons Miller. She attended schools at Princess Anne. She was first married to Guy J. Collins in 1935. They had made their home in the Vienna area until 1954 when they were divorced and she moved to the Salisbury area.

She was later married to Clark Ryall. Mr. Ryall passed away in March of 1978. After Mr. Ryall passed away she made her home in Cambridge, and since March of 2002 she had made her home with her daughter and son-in-law near East New Market.

She enjoyed writing poetry as well as gardening. Mrs. Ryall was a member of Perryhawkin Christian Church in Princess Anne, and had attended Countryside Christian Church.

For a number of years Mrs. Ryall had worked as a sales clerk for the Hecht Co. in Salisbury until she retired in 1978.

She had been a resident at the Mallard Bay Care Center since Oct. 13, 2004.

Survivors include a daughter, June C. McKelvey and a son-in-law, Philip H. McKelvey of East New Market; a son, Oliver H. Collins and a daughter-in-law, Cheryl Collins of Vienna; four grandchildren, Trudy W. Callahan of Laurel, Del., Beverly Linthicum of Cambridge, James P. McKelvey of East New Market and Michael Collins of Rhodesdale. She is also survived by nine great-grandchildren, Amanda Burton, Wesley Willoughby, Jeremy McKelvey, James P. McKelvey Jr., Jacob McKelvey, Cody Linthicum, Mickala Collins, McKenzie Collins and Sydney Renee Collins; three great-great-grandchildren, Sabrina McKelvey, Kyle McKelvey and Phillip Michael McKelvey; six nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Margie Buhrman; four brothers, Walter Miller, Paul Miller, William Miller and George Miller; a son, Guy Collins Jr. and a grandson, Gregory Guy Collins.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday at St. Andrews Episcopal Cemetery in Princess Anne with the Rev. A. Delmer Willey officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to Perryhawkin Christian Church, c/o Betty Long, 10710 Perryhawkin Road, Princess Anne, MD 21853 or to the Gideon's International, c/o Edwin Howard, 5829 Hudson Wharf Road, Cambridge, MD 21613. Letters of condolences may be sent to www.thomasfuneralhomepa.com.