Elayne Orr

Madison - Elayne Soley Orr passed away peacefully early on the morning of July 27, 2021. Elayne was born in Brooklyn, NY on December 27, 1927 to Eleanor Iverson Soley and Joseph Soley. She attended Keuka College and graduated from Columbia University School of Nursing with a B.S in Nursing in 1950. She worked at Babies Hospital at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City, and as a Pediatric Nurse for 20 years at University Hospitals in Madison. Among Elayne’s many interests were travel, baseball, birding, skiing, music, bridge, and a love for dogs. Her shortbread, plum cordial, pumpkin pie, and macaroni and cheese were legendary. Elayne made annual trips to New York with her college classmate, Jean Stonesifer for theater, dining, adventure, and to revive her Brooklyn accent. Though originally a Brooklyn Dodgers fan (but never a LA Dodgers fan) she adopted the Milwaukee Brewers and supported them since their inception.

The empathy of nursing shone through. She never wanted Christmas presents, instead asking for donations to a variety of charities. She volunteered for a Seniors group and gave old folks (many younger than her) rides to appointments and shopping. She was active in her church because of love and service to others. She served on the vestry committee of St. Andrew’s for many years.

The science of nursing shone through. She believed that problems had rational solutions, whether they were in the family, the church, at work, or in our government.

As a pediatric nurse she loved children. She helped them heal. She helped them cope. She supported Camp Webb, the diocesan summer camp, to help children grow and develop. She adored her grandchildren.

Elayne is survived by her children, Blair (Robin Webb Orr) and Keith (Martin Contreras); her grandchildren, Olivia and Abbie; her nieces, Melissa, Patricia, and Kathleen; her nephews, Chuck and David; and grandnieces and grandnephews. She is predeceased by her parents, her husband Gordon, and her sister Doris (Soley) Johnson.

A funeral service will be held at ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1833 Regent Street, Madison on Friday, August 6, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. CDT with Father Andy Jones presiding. Visitation will be held at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Rd., Madison, on Thursday, August 5, 2021, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will also be live-streamed via the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1OQcVowZcw

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to Sharing Active Independent Lives (SAIL) https://sail2005.clubexpress.com/ or to St. Andrew’s In Memoriam for Elayne Orr. https://www.standrews-madison.org/give.html

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Road

(608) 238-3434