In Memory of Lynne Ezelle

On Easter Sunday, Lynne Ezelle was welcomed into Heaven by her beloved daughter Laura, her husband James “Donald”, and her very special brother, Jim — a reunion as full of grace as the life she lived.

Lynne was born on September 9, 1936, in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, to James McCoy and Georgia Morris. Her early years carried her from Detroit, Michigan, to Gadsden, Alabama, and eventually to Lakeland, Florida, where roots began to take hold. A cherished chapter of her youth was spent in Huntsville, Alabama, in the warm and loving home of Aunt Marion and "Doc" Caldwell.

A woman of beauty and taste, Lynne attended the University of Florida, where she majored in Interior Design within the School of Architecture. She was a proud member of Kappa Delta Sorority and was honored as a Sweetheart of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. It was in those early Florida years that she met James “Donald” Ezelle. They married on December 23, 1952, shortly before her graduation, and began a life together that would be defined by creativity, faith, and devotion to family.

The couple settled in Melbourne, Florida, where they threw themselves into the life of their community. As charter members of Eastminster Presbyterian Church, they served on the building committee and took great pride in helping bring to life the stained glass windows that are still present in the sanctuary. They served as Youth Leaders, and later, Lynne returned to both Sunday School teaching and youth ministry as her own daughters grew in faith alongside her. Together, Lynne and Don also lent their considerable talents to the Brevard Civic Theater, where set design became another canvas for their shared creativity.

Lynne was a devoted and irreplaceable mother to her three daughters — Terri Lynne, Marion “Dawn” and Laura Ruth — and her love for them was the quiet, steady current beneath everything she did. When her youngest, Laura, was diagnosed with a brain tumor at just eight years old, Lynne met that heartbreak with extraordinary strength and tenderness. For years, she cared for Laura with tireless, selfless devotion until Laura's passing in 1994. That love never wavered, not for a single day. Through all of those responsibilities, she made sure that her girls never missed out on fun, taking trips all over the southern states in a Station Wagon or the Camper Van. Her daughters, in turn, loved their mother with a completeness that words can only begin to approach. She was their compass, their comfort, and their greatest champion — a woman whose lady-like demeanor never overshadowed her warmth, and whose strength never diminished her gentleness. To Terri and Dawn, she was simply the heart of the family, the keeper of its stories, and the standard by which love itself was measured – a true Matriarch.

When Don acquired the historic Glen Choga lodge in the mountains of North Carolina alongside dear friends from Melbourne, Lynne embraced the adventure with enthusiasm. While the men restored the exterior, she lovingly added her touches to the interior with the eye of the designer she had always been — scouring antique shops for quilts, china, and treasures that would give the old lodge its next, beautiful life. Over time, they became the sole owners and spent many years there. It was the place of many memories with family and
friends.

Lynne began making visits to New Mexico to be near both of her daughters and her six grandchildren, and eventually Alamogordo became home. There, she found new purpose and joy. She found her truest joy in her children and grandchildren. From rodeos to ballet recitals, from volleyball and basketball games from track meets to school awards ceremonies, Grammie was always there, always encouraging – their greatest fan.

Finding a church home at Grace Methodist, she sang with the Chancel Choir, worked in the Grace Food Pantry and every Saturday she gave her time faithfully at Shared Table, continuing until her health made it no longer possible. She was also a proud and active member of the Flickinger Center Guild, where she ushered and worked the concession stand with the same cheerful commitment she brought to everything.

Lynne is survived by her daughters, Terri Koehler (Richard) and Dawn Van Arnam (fiancé, Saben Lessentine); her beloved grandsons Trey Koehler (Hannah) of San Clemente, California, Tyler Koehler (Emily) of Holloman AFB, and Grayson Koehler of St. Louis, Missouri; and her cherished granddaughters Lynley Koehler, Ashtyn VanArnam, and Avery VanArnam, all of Alamogordo. She is also survived by her sister, Leslie, and sister-in-law, Darlene, both of Iron City, Georgia, as well as nieces Pamela, Carrie, Stacie, and Kelly, and a nephew, James (Buddy).

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Georgia; her daughter, Laura; her husband, Don; and her dear brother, James Caldwell Morris.

The family wishes to extend their profound gratitude to Dr. Sandra Grummert and the compassionate team at Alamogordo Home Health and Hospice, including therapists Kristi and Rolando. Her caregivers, Beth, Lynnette, Jonie, and Chloe, helped keep her with us longer than we might have hoped and became cherished members of the family. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

She was a woman who made every room more beautiful — and every life she touched, more full.
A true Southern Lady