Ellen Laverne Mathison

A life well lived…. A life that loved well. Ellen Laverne Mathison, age 98, passed away peacefully on August 29, 2026, in Gilroy, CA. Born September 9, 1927, on a Wisconsin dairy farm, she was the youngest of four children. Hard work was simply a way of life from the start; alongside the never-ending rhythm of chores, she and her family milked cows morning and night, every single day of the year. She received her early education in a classic one-room schoolhouse, which she walked to and from every day for eight years.

After graduating from nursing school in Chicago, Laverne arrived in Gilroy for a two-week couch-surfing vacation. Instead, she met the love of her life, Walter, and stayed for the next seven decades. Even after leaving Wisconsin, miles never meant distance to Laverne - she remained the ultimate connector and community builder, anchoring lifelong friendships and bringing people together wherever she went.

The joy of Laverne’s life was serving others. She had a remarkable 48-year nursing career in 3 different hospitals in Gilroy, working in nearly every department. After she retired, she then created and developed her church’s Parish Nurse Health Ministry program. Working tirelessly for another 10 years, this program touched the lives of hundreds of people by supporting church members and their families with physical, mental and practical needs. Under her leadership, she and a dozen members of the church community provided home visits, educational programs, annual health fairs and a Senior Resource Center that included brochures and pamphlets on a wide variety of health issues. She also assisted other interested churches in the area in creating similar programs.

She raised four children and supported them in various school and after-school activities to enrich their lives. A devout Christian, God was always important to her. She was an active member of Gilroy Presbyterian Church for 76 years and attended regularly. In addition, she sang in the church and other choirs for over 60 years, participated in Bible study for over 40 years, was a member of Lutheran Women United, and was a 50-year member of PEO. She loved people and was always active in the community, being an avid square-dancer, a volunteer at the local Senior Center, a docent for 20 years at Gilroy Gardens and a member of Women in Touch. Passionate about travel, she and Walt enjoyed several cruises and visited many states and countries together and with family.

A force of nature, Laverne always found ways to bring people together. She was the architect and hostess of countless family reunions and social gatherings, and was legendary for bringing her homemade jam, pies, and cobblers made from fruit picked off their own farm.

She is survived by her four children, Sharon, Walter Jr, Mark and Lori, and two grandchildren, Tara and April.

A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, October 24 at 11 am at Gilroy Presbyterian Church, located at 6000 Miller Avenue, Gilroy, CA. All are welcome. To honor Laverne and the brightness she brought to the world, we invite guests to wear cheerful colors in place of traditional black.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites contributions in Laverne’s memory to P.E.O., one of her favorite organizations, which champions higher education scholarships for women. Please write checks out to: PEO, Chapter WJ and mail to: Valerie Chambliss 1026 Llagas Road, Morgan Hill, CA 95037