Elva Ann Paulsen, 86 of Ft. Morgan, passed into the arms of her Heavenly Father on Thursday morning, April 17, 2008 at the Colorado Plains Medical Center in Ft. Morgan due to the complications from Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. Formerly of Littleton, she was living with her daughter and son-in-law, Marcia and Kieth Washburn at the time of her death. Mrs. Paulsen was born June 26, 1921 near Winside, Nebraska to Elmer and Maude (James) Fisher. She attended rural schools, spending summers taking piano lessons and cultivating dry land corn crops with a team of work horses. She served as a teacher's assistant in the pre-school at Wayne State Teacher's College, working her way through at ten cents an hour. After earning her degree in music education in 1942, she taught vocal music and English in Wausa,, Laurel and Hartington, Nebraska. Her choir consistently won superior ratings in competitions. Following her marriage to Leslie Clarence Paulsen on August 29, 1948, the couple moved to Denver, Colorado and later to Littleton. In addition to her work as a homemaker, she assisted her husband in his two businesses. They both enjoyed traveling and visited every state and continent except Antarctica, traveling by plane, train car, ship and hot air balloon, as well as by elephant and camel. Elva was a private piano teacher for 58 years until her retirement in June 2007. She was active in the South Suburban Music Teacher Association, was a state-certified piano teacher and member of National Guild of Piano Teachers. A devout Christian, she served on numerous church committees at First Presbyterian Church of Littleton and Grace Point Community Church and sang in church choirs a total of 57 years. Although she had retired from her piano teaching profession, she never retired from her ministry of prayer, spending time each day with prayer list and Bible study. Preceding Mrs. Paulsen in death were her parents, an infant sister, Betty Jane, a brother Marlin and a grandson Enoch Allen Washburn. Surviving family members include her daughters, Marcia Washburn of Ft. Morgan and April Chaffin of Ft. Collins, two granddaughters, Tammy Roof of Socorro, NM and Clara Chaffin of Flagstaff, NM, five grandsons Philp Washburn of Orlando Fl, Nathanael (Nate) Washburn of Draper, UT, John Washburn of Greeley, Josiah Washburn of Florence, AZ; and Timothy Washburn, of Ft. Collins, two great granddaughters, Kailey and Natalie of Draper, UT and her sister, Lila Jackson of Wakefield, NE. There will be a viewing, Sunday, April 20th from 2 until 4 PM at the Heer Mortuary in Ft. Morgan. A memorial Service and hymn sing will be held Sunday the 20th at 6 PM at the Life Fellowship Church in Ft. Morgan (West Building). There will be a viewing on Monday, April 20th at 9:30 AM at Gracepoint Community Church at 90 E. Orchard Road, Littleton, CO. Funeral services will be Monday at 10:30 AM at Gracepoint and interment will follow in Ft. Logan National Cemetery in Denver. .