AMBOY — Mary Ellen Girton, 92, of Amboy died Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 at Serenity Hospice and Home in Oregon. 

She was born May 15, 1927, in Amboy the daughter of Charles and Margaret (Kelleher) Hinkle. 

She was the head cook at Central School and Amboy Junior High School for over 40 years prior to retirement. In retirement she worked part time in the library at the Junior High School.  Mary Ellen along with her husband also owned and operated Jim's Bait Shop in Amboy for 20 years.

She was a member of St Patrick Catholic Church in Amboy and was a member of the church choir. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society, Volunteered at KSB Hospital and had been a member and past president of the Pankhurst Memorial Library Board in Amboy.

She also enjoyed spending time with her friends a Mendota Hills Campground.

Mary Ellen married James L. Girton on Nov. 27, 1948 in Amboy. He preceded her in death Sept. 24, 1985. 

She was also preceded in death by brothers Charles, John, James "Mort", Francis, and Edward Hinkle and sister Lois Gascoigne.

Mary Ellen is survived by her children, James Michael (Jodi) Girton, of Granville, Patricia (Neal) Pitzer, of Amboy, Greg Girton, of Dixon, Janelle (Roger) Noble, of Amboy, and Mary (Mike) Anderson, of Amboy; 10 grandchildren, James Michael (Nicki Supan) Girton Jr, Michael John Slingsby, Tracey (John) Simpson, Jamie (Cory) Johnson, Christopher (Lauren) Noble, Chad (Ashley) Noble, Clifton (Jeni Montavon) Noble, Colby (Kate) Anderson, Krystle (Cody) Larson, and Kyle Anderson; 16 great-grandchildren, Haley, Kelsey, Connor Lucas and Trevor Simpson, Tyler, Payton and Rylee Johnson, Caiden, Graham, Camryn and Benjamin Noble, Duncan, Olive and Millie Anderson and Brooklyn Larson.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019 beginning with a 10 a.m. prayer service in the Mihm-Jones Funeral Home in Amboy followed by a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick Catholic Catholic Church in Amboy with the Rev. Richard Kramer officiating. Burial will follow in St Patrick Cemetery in Amboy.

Visitation will be held from 4 – 7 p.m., on Wednesday, at the Mihm-Jones Funeral Home with a service lead by Pastor John Kalebaugh at 7 p.m. A memorial has been established.

Condolences may be sent online at www.thejonesfh.com.