Elaine Marcella Rouse, 88, of Coupeville, longtime former Sacramento resident, died at Careage of Whidbey on Oct. 30, 2008.

Mrs. Rouse was born in Blackfoot, Idaho, on Aug. 31, 1920, to Albert and Anna (Broadbent) Carlson. She was raised for a time in Blackfoot and then moved to Provo, Utah, returning to Blackfoot briefly before becoming a 75-year resident of Sacramento. On Sept. 3, 1938, Elaine married Edward L. Rouse in Sacramento. She had a clever ability to create jingles and seemed to have a knack for winning many contests that she entered. She also enjoyed gambling and being coordinator of trips taken by fellow residents of the mobile home park in which she and her husband lived.

Elaine moved to Whidbey Island in 2005 to be near her son and daughter-in-law, and had been a resident of Careage of Whidbey since that time.

Elaine is survived by her son, Ed Rouse, Jr. and his wife Marcia of Oak Harbor; her daughter, Jeanette Rouse of Rio Vista, Texas; four grandchildren, Shannon Doucette and husband David of Elk Grove, Calif., Ronald Rouse and Jeff Springer, both of Sacramento, and Julie Meisner and husband Rocky of Rio Vista, Texas; seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded by her husband Edward in 1985; by a granddaughter Jennifer Yarborough in 2004, as well as by two brothers, Harry and Burt Carlson and a sister Leona Blair.

Private services will take place in Sacramento. Memorials may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Greater Washington Chapter, 192

Nickerson St., Ste. No. 100, Seattle, WA 98109; or to the American Parkinson Disease Association, Washington State Chapter, P.O. Box 75169, Seattle, WA 98175-0169. Local arrangements are with the assistance of Whidbey Memorial Funeral and Cremation Service, Inc., Oak Harbor.

Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest register by going to www.whidbeymemorial.com.