Elberta Caroline (Downs) James

Funeral services for Elberta Caroline James, 94, of Norfolk, will be 2:00 pm, Friday, December 13, 2019, at the Home for Funerals Chapel, 708 Georgia Avenue, Norfolk, NE 68701. Pastor Bob Dainton will officiate. Visitation will be from 12:00 until service time. Burial will be in Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery. Home for Funerals are in charge of the arrangements.

She passed away Sunday, December 8, 2019, at Heritage of Bel Air, Norfolk, NE.

Elberta was born on June 5, 1925, the daughter of Elbert Noah and Bertilla Magdalina (Hoos) Downs. She was raised on the family farm and attended District #118 country school and graduated from Neligh High School in 1944.

During World War II, Elberta worked at several stores as well as on the farm and she was very proud to babysit where she was needed.   

On June 19, 1946, Elberta married Henry Portor James at the Methodist parsonage of Neligh. To that union, four children were born. They lived on the farm where raised children and she work at Bert’s Cafe for several years before later moving to Tilden, NE. They then moved to Neligh where she proudly became a Certified Nurse. She was employed at the Neligh Hospital and the Neligh Nursing Home. After major back surgery forced her into early retirement, she enjoyed living at different locations around her children and siblings and enjoying her children and grandchildren. 

Elberta is survived by her children: Richard (Louise) James, Lincoln, NE, Karolyn House, (Richard) of Neligh, NE, Marilyn Margritz, of Norfolk, NE (Tom Margritz) Kenesaw, NE; 19 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elbert & Bertilla Downs, her husband, Henry Porter James, her son, Henry Porter II; a great grandchild, Matthew Schindler and a great-great grandchild Koda Kubert and son-in-law, Roland House. Also preceding her were her siblings: infant triplets, Robert, Rubert and Roberta, brother, Peter Downs; and 2 sisters: Evelyn Olson and Elsa Mather.

 Service Information