- Date Of Birth: November 16, 1924
- Date Of Death: March 23, 2018
- State: Colorado
Elaine Ellis, 93, died on March 23, 2018. She was born in Benavides, Texas and was raised in several small “oil towns” and later in Corpus Chirsti, Texas. Her early life was difficult growing up in a somewhat dysfunctional environment. She had a twin sister and each girl provided much needed support for each other. After high school both girls worked for two years to save enough money to afford college. A year later, she married James Carroll Bell, a medical student. She worked as a secretary until his studies were completed. After Dr. Bell’s graduation, they moved to Denver for Dr. Bell’s internship and medical residency at Colorado General Hospital. Again, Elaine worked as a secretary during this time. Subsequently, Dr. Bell and Elaine lived in Puerto Rico where Dr. Bell served as an army medical officer. During this period, Dr. Bell developed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). Dr. Bell died in 1960 and Elaine was left with four small children. She went back to work as a school secretary; her school principal encouraged her to return to college and become a teacher. She graduated from Denver University and began a 25 year career as a successful grammar school teacher in the Denver school system. During this period she obtained a master’s degree and completed course credits towards a doctorate degree. Elaine married Dr. Phillip Ellis in 1968 and they had a very happy marriage of almost 50 years.
