She graduated valedictorian of her high school class. Upon graduation, Elly moved to Minneapolis, MN for her nurses training, becoming a registered nurse. It was at this time she met her husband, Gordon Brunott. They were married on May 1, 1948. They were married for 63 years. From this union, their first son, Gordon Jr. (Chip) was born in July 1949. In 1952, they moved to Topeka, KS where their son, Mark, was born. It was then that Elly worked as a nurse at Stormont Vail Hospital and raised her family. One night on nursing duty in the pediatric unit, she listened to a Christian radio station speaker. As a result, Elly believed in Jesus for everlasting life. She was convinced that Jesus’ claim, ‘He who believes in me has life’ was true. From that moment on, she became a student of God’s Word.
The family moved to Florida and owned a gas station servicing both cars and boats. Florida wasn’t what they expected so they moved back to Topeka, Kansas and purchased a hardware store. It was then that a special friend, Martha Rook, discipled Elly and they together studied the Bible vigorously
Elly worked tirelessly for the family business while at the same time raising her boys and serving her Lord. She was a church pianist and choir director at Topeka Bible Church for over 25 years. Later, she and Gordy would help start the Topeka Evangelical Free Church. Elly was a Proverbs 31:10-31 kind of woman. “Praised by her husband, adored by her children, and proficient in every area of her life – in the home and outside the home.” In the Hebrew Bible, the book of Ruth follows Proverbs 31. She had a Naomi and Ruth kind of relationship with her two daughters-in-law, Lanette and Cindy Brunott. After her husband’s death in 2011, Elly moved to Lincoln, NE and became a partnering member of First Free Church.
Elly was an accomplished pianist, Bible storyteller, and artist (she loved to paint). She also loved to embroider and was a phenomenal cook. Elly was a prayer warrior and an Evangelist. She talked about Jesus to everyone and put Scripture verses on her paintings and tea towels believing God’s word does not return void. She has touched women in Brazil and Nicaragua with her tea towels.
She went home to heaven on January 6th, 2024. Truly ‘well done thy good and faithful servant.’
She is preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Brunott, of Topeka, KS; her parents, Royal Clayton Colton and Ruth Colton of Topeka, KS.; one sister, Priscilla Miles of Newton, KS; one brother Buzz Colton of Topeka, KS.
She is survived in death by her sister Marion (Atlee) Vernon of Lawrence, KS; son Chip Brunott (Lanette) of Plano, Texas; Mark (Cindy) Brunott of Lincoln, NE. Six grandchildren Chad (Angela) Brunott of Boerne, TX, Charla (Tyler) Sorrells of Boerne, TX; Jamia (Drew) Hoffman of Westerfield, IN; Brad (Melanie) Brunott of Celina, TX; Jason (Sally) Brunott of Lincoln, NE; Jonathan (Amanda) Brunott of Columbus, NE. Eleven great grandchildren Austin (Megan) Meade of Corinth, TX; Cole Brunott, Alyssa Brunott, Connor Fields, Brooklynn Brunott, Avy Brunott, Lila Brunott, Emersyn Brunott, Ryder Brunott, Liv Brunott, and Maren Brunott.
Visitation will be from 2-6 Saturday (January 13th) at Roper and Son’s Funeral Home – 3950 Hohensee Drive (40th and Yankee Hill). Family with family greeting from 4-6.
Celebration of Life service is Sunday, January 14th at 4:00 pm (dinner following) – 3280 S. 84th St., Lincoln, NE. Burial is Monday, January 15th at 10:00 am – Cheney Cemetery (84th and Yankee Hill).
Livestream link is: https://vimeo.com/event/4004583
Memorials to Cypress Valley Bible Church for Nicaragua Ministry of Training Pastors.