Ellers to be Flora parade marshals
By Jennifer Archibald Staff writer

Arlene and Dr. Alvan Eller, pictured at their home near Cutler

Dr. Alvan and Arlene Eller will be grand marshals of Flora's Christmas parade on Saturday. The parade begins at 12:30 p.m.

The Ellers were chosen as grand marshals because of their involvement in the community.

Dr. Eller was a physician in Flora for 33 years, and Mrs. Eller was comptroller at the office for 20 years. They are members of the Flora Community Club and helped with the original fundraising efforts for the Carroll County YMCA.

They are members of the Flora United Methodist Church, and are active with church mission work. Earlier this year they went on two mission trips to Mississippi to help with Katrina relief work. They plan to go back in March.

Dr. Eller is chairman of the Carroll County Board of Health, is on the Wesley Manor (Frankfort) board of directors, and is a member of the Carroll County Medical Society. Mrs. Eller is a member of the Medical Society Auxiliary. She catered meals for the Society for more than 10 years.

Since his "retirement," Dr. Eller has filled in at all the area Clarian Arnett offices and at Urgent Care. He said he will soon be assisting in the Dermatology Department - seeing patients part-time at the Salem Street office in Lafayette.

Mrs. Eller owned and operated Arlene's Boutique in Flora for seven years and was comanager of the gift shop at St. Elizabeth Hospital for 10 years. The latter was a volunteer position.

The Ellers enjoy traveling, and their destinations include Orange Beach, Ala., Ft. Myers Beach, Fla., western Kansas, Michigan, Huntsville, Ala., where their daughter, Debbie Smith and family live, and Hickory, N.C., where their son, Doug, and family live. They have six grandchildren.

The Ellers say they like to go to the small, local restaurants on their trips, to sample the local cooking and visit with the people. They collect cookbooks and enjoy cooking together and trying new recipes. They also enjoy entertaining in their home.

"Arlene is a great hostess," Dr. Eller said.

He likes to bake, and entered a Stafford Dutch apple pie in the pie contest at the Halloween Fest in Flora. He took home the grand prize.

The Ellers live near Cutler, and say they have wonderful neighbors. Not far from their home is Eller Pond, which they established and donated to the Department of Natural Resources as a waterfowl and wildlife preserve.

They appreciate fine art and especially Indiana artists. Dr. Eller is an avid photographer and has framed some of his prints of outdoor scenes. He says he also plays a little golf.

Mrs. Eller said she likes working outdoors - taking care of the lawn and flowers. She's also in a local Bible study group.

They enjoy going places together and consider themselves "a team."

The Ellers have given much to the community, and Mrs. Eller said, "The community has been good to us."