Lemley Chapel
Serving Sedro-Woolley &
All of Skagit County Since 1935
1008 Third Street
Sedro-Woolley, WA
360-855-1288
www.LemleyChapel.com
Dorothy  Ellis Memorial
Dorothy  Ellis Memorial

Dorothy Ellis

Dorothy Ellis

Monday, November 22nd, 2021

Dorothy Leona Ellis of Sedro-Woolley, Washington passed away November 22, 2021, in Mount Vernon, WA.

She was born in Bellingham, WA April 5, 1929, to Arthur and Hazel (McCoy) Land.  Dorothy was raised by her mother, Hazel (McCoy) Oliver and William Oliver whom Hazel married when Dorothy was young.  The family moved to Sedro-Woolley where She attended school and graduated from Sedro-Woolley High School.

In 1943, Dorothy met W. Eugene (Gene) Ellis while she was working in the spinach fields in Clear Lake, WA.  Gene served his country in the Merchant Marines during WW II.  When he returned home, he and Dorothy were married on June 12, 1948, in Clear Lake.

While Gene worked at Franklin’s Lumber Yard in Mount Vernon, Dorothy worked at Memorial Hospital and Northern State Hospital in Sedro-Woolley.  In 1949, Dorothy and Gene moved to their lifetime home North of Sedro-Woolley.  In 1953, Dorothy and Gene started the Prairie Shake Mill which they owned and operated at their home until their retirement.

Dorothy and Gene both thoroughly enjoyed raising and showing English Bulldogs.  They were known in the bulldog business as Be Jean’s Bulldogs and travelled to numerous shows throughout the country to include the Nationals.

Dorothy is survived by her sons, William Ellis of Sedro-Woolley, Robert Ellis and wife, Welene of Buckeye, Arizona and Bernie Ellis of Sedro-Woolley; daughters, Leona Ellis of Fox Island and Linda Ellis-Hanger (Jeff) of Burlington, WA; brother, Kenneth Oliver and wife, Karen of Texas; brother-in-law, Leslie Ellis and wife, Ruth of Clear Lake; 20 grandchildren and great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

Dorothy is preceded in death by her husband, Gene; son, Benjamin; parents, William and Hazel Oliver; brothers, Albert Land, William Oliver Jr., Edwin Oliver and George Oliver; daughter-in-law, Jean Ellis; son-in-law, Ralph Hanger.

A Graveside Service will be held at 1:00, Thursday, December 2, 2021, at Union Cemetery, Sedro-Woolley.  Share your memories of Dorothy and sign the online guest register.

Guestbook

  • Jordan Oliver

    Auntie Dot…..that’s how we referred to her growing up. We always looked forward to going out to her and uncle Gene’s when we were in Woolley visiting grandpa and grandma Oliver. As a kid we were amazed by all the bulldogs they had. Think my sister Tina and I accidently let a few out in the kennel house once and auntie Dot and uncle Gene had to come rescue us and put the dogs all away haha. I remember auntie was just all smiles and got a kick out of our predicament. We will miss her but God was ready for her.

  • Kenneth Oliver

    Dorothy was my sister and the oldest of my siblings. When I was born, she was a teenager and I have been told she loved taking care of me like I was her own. She was always loyal and loving to her four younger brothers. She often came to our defense, even when no one else did! As I grew up and felt called to be a minister, Dorothy was very supportive of me, and whenever I came home and was asked to preach at the SW FM church, she and Gene would often be in the audience. As we all grew up and had families of our own, Dorothy loved the all inclusive family gatherings, always preparing and bringing lots of delicious food. She was also the first in line to clean up, washing dishes and making sure everything was back to normal before heading home. She truly had a servants heart. In her later years, Karen and I enjoyed visits with her on her birthday at the Black Angus in Lynnwood and then in the group home where she spent her final years. She ALWAYS had a big smile on her face. I loved my sister and I know she loved me.