Martha Ellen Moore was born September 25, 1930 at the Moore Farm near Balmorhea, Texas. She was the youngest of five children born to Cora (Splittgarber) and Albert Moore, Madera Valley pioneers. Ellen attended school in Balmorhea, graduating from BHS in 1947 as valedictorian. She then attended Sul Ross University in Alpine for a short time before returning to her hometown.On the anniversary of her Splittgarber grandparents and her brother and sister-in-law, Harvey and Martha Moore, Ellen married the love of her life, Nelson Lethco. This union endured for 54 years and produced 3 children and 8 grandchildren that dearly loved Memaw.Ellen and Nelson spent the first half of their marriage on the Woulfter ranch near Toyahvale. Ellen liked to ride shotgun, and told the hired hand that the pickup would drive sideways if she wasn’t in it. When the children were grown Nelson and Ellen moved to Sunrise Beach on Lake LBJ, and later to their ranch at Cherokee where they built their final home.Ellen was raised as a Catholic, being baptized at the old church in Brogado. When her children were young, she was very active in all church and school events. She attended all the ballgames, from football to baseball and even track, to support her nieces and nephews as well as all the Balmorhea kids. She will long be remembered as their favorite fan with her loud and rowdy chants. Ellen could be counted on to haul the cheerleaders as there were neither vehicles nor funds for them to travel, and Ellen was always generous and accommodating to the school’s needs. The school annuals were often dedicated to Ellen and Nelson for their support of Balmorhea schools.An active member of the PTA, 4-H, Band Boosters, and Young Homemakers, Ellen was always busy supporting the school kids. She often tagged along to sponsor UIL events, and for many years, she was a great contributor to the Reeves County Stock Shows, always running up the bids and buying the animals to support the kids. When she moved away, she got her brother, Harvey to do her buying so that she could continue to support her hometowns kids.Ellen exhibited many great qualities. She was a very generous person and helped many people in her lifetime. Her love of animals was always a great part of her life. She had a quick wit, and was always ready to hear and tell a good joke…many on the naughty side. She said of herself that she liked drinking and hunting…if she wasn’t drinking, she was hunting something to drink. Her little sayings will long be remembered by her family and friends. You always had fun when Ellen (Auntie) was around as she was a kid at heart.Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, Cora and Albert Moore; her sister, Christine (Teenie) Poe; her brothers, Bob Moore and Harvey Moore; and her husband, Nelson Lethco. Survivors include her children, son, Lenord and his wife Caley, of Yoyahvale; and daughters, Nancy and her husband, Bob Hayter of Fort Stockton; and Marty and her husband, Bobby Burnett of Cherokee; 8 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren; and her sister, Josephine Herrington of Monahans; along with a slew of nieces and nephews that were very special to her.Memorial services are pending in Cherokee and Balmorhea.The family requests that memorials be made to any Hospice, the West of the Pecos Museum in Pecos, Paralyzed Veterans, Salvation Army, or Christmas for Our Troops.Services are under the directions of Heritage Funeral Homes