Sheila Palm Ellis, 79, passed away on September 13, 2012 with her loving family by her side. She was born on April 6, 1933, in Essex, MA to Arthur & Svea (Palm) Houde. After graduating from Northboro High School, she joined the U.S. Air Force where she worked as a secretary, and played catcher on the Air Force softball team in Baltimore, MD. Through her service, she met her first husband, Ernest Meyers. After her discharge from the Air Force they moved to Sheila’s hometown where their first child, Gary was born. Two years later they moved to Rio Grand City, TX, where their second child, Darlene was born.
Sheila began a teaching career in Rio Grand City where the school district asked her to teach English, although she had no teaching credentials. Sheila fell in love with teaching, and pursued an education in the field with a career that spanned 40 years. In 1966 Sheila and the kids moved to Sedro-Woolley, WA, following her older sister, Sonia. There, she found a job teaching at Central Elementary, where she taught third and fifth grades. She also taught at Evergreen Elementary, but finished her career at Central School. Her students all knew that she was stern, and that they could not get away with much in her classroom. This stemmed from her love for the children.
As a professional educator, Sheila was on the district health committee and was instrumental in beginning the D. A. R. E. program in her community. Sheila continually tried new ways to reach students. With district support, she started a special class for “at risk” students, which is called the LIFE program at Central school.
Sheila traveled many places in her lifetime, but she loved Sedro-Woolley the best. She frequently said, “It is the most beautiful place in the world.” Shortly after arriving in Sedro-Woolley, she met her second husband, George Ellis, and they were married six weeks later. Sheila and George loved the outdoors. They were usually out on Puget Sound, or on the Skagit River fishing. Sheila loved going to the casino and playing bingo, but especially loved playing games with her family and friends. She didn’t like to lose, and didn’t very often. When she won, she had a way of letting everyone know about it. Sheila was always strong willed and driven. When she put her mind to something, she gave it her all.
Sheila was preceded in death by her parents, Svea & Arthur; sister, Sandra and husband, George. She is survived by her sister, Sonia Jay (Paul); son, Gary Meyers; daughter, Darlene Crisp (Mark); 6 grandchildren, Kristopher Greenough (Lisa), Corey Meyers (Stephanie), Randilyn White (Jesse), Nicole Crisp (Jordan), Carrie Weyand (Elliott) and Jennifer Crisp; 5 great-grandchildren, Kalia, Kailar and Koehn Greenough and Madilyn and Ellie Weyand, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Graveside Inurnment Service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 22, 2012, at the Sedro-Woolley Union Cemetery with Father Jim Dalton, Celebrant. The family requests that memorials be made to the Sedro-Woolley Rotary Club Scholarship Fund, PO Box 726, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284 to help a student continue their education. Friends and family are invited to attend a reception following the services at Central Elementary Gymnasium, Sedro-Woolley.
Mrs. Ellis ….What a sweet wonderful teacher you were….I remember you reading us the book ” Where the Sidewalk ends” by shell Silverstein and creepy ghost stories and you were so very good at making us all JUMP!! out of our shoes when you’d get to the spooky punchline…you may have been a stern teacher to all of us students at Evergreen Elementary….but you were also one of the best in the business of caring for us kids we loved you for your firm hand and wonderful story telling…God bless you always….Jason Self class of 1994….
I too had Mrs. Ellis as my 5th grade teacher while attending Central. Although it was a longggg time ago (about 1971) Mrs. Ellis has always remained on my mind.
When I was asked at a work seminar (you know those silly bonding seminars) what teacher had the most impact on my life I didn’t even have to think. Although I had a lot of excellent teacher throughout my life, Mrs. Ellis was THE ONE.
Mrs Ellis taught use about drugs, and to stay away from them long before Nancy Reagen joined the cause. She taught us to never judge a person by the color of their skin, even though there was a lot of prejudice in Skagit Valley. She taught us that the world was a big place and we should explore it. I didn’t even know women could join the military until she told us about her experiences.
And academically she taught me how to write my first report, to memorize all the states and their capitols, and
that you could have fun, while getting the work done. Mrs. Ellis always held you accountable, but she listened to what you had to say. If your explanation was valid she accepted it. If you were just lazy, God help you!
My sincere sympathy to Mrs. Ellis’ family. I hope there is comfort in knowing how much of an influence she had a so many lives. She truly did in mine.
Karen Brokaw Wood
Sheila was a great teacher.
She will be missed
Prayers to each of you.
Peggy Suryan
I had the privilege of being in the first, fifth grade class that Mrs. Meyers (Ellis) taught at Central School. I always consider that class, and primarily her, as my far-and-away favorite of my school experience. Mrs. Ellis was so much more than a teacher of academics – she taught us about life, and shared life with us – even though we were just kids. She was a very special person in my life, and I’m confident in the lives of all who knew her.
– Bruce Shellhamer
My deepest condolences to Darlene and Gary and the family as you mourn the death of your mom. The education foundation I received from her in the 5th has made me the man I am today. Our classroom was filled with great discussions as we were begining to really learn about life and our world. We memorized and recited poetry as a class that instilled a love of the written word that I carry today. (In fact, the love of my life, Michael is a published and very accomplished poet!)
“Listen my children and you shall hear of the Midnight ride of Paul Revere……” We spent a lot of time on that poem. For me though, it was when I got to lead the class in the recitation and memorization of “The Gettysburg Address,” is when my life long passion of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, and the Assasination of Lincoln was born. In fact, I wrote a play in the 5th grade called “The Assasination of Lincoln,” with elaborate staging the included creating the Ford’s Theater Balcony out of desks! While it was never performed, she was very involved in the writing of it. We produced “Cinderella” as a class and invited VIP people from the community to our shows. She let us thrive as young arts and my love of the Arts continues to this day.
I remember when we planned our 10 year reunion in the 5th grade, and then the fact that we actually went ahead and had it in 78 or 79, at the house on Talcott. She was so supportive of all of us that attended. In fact, I do believe that we got coverage in the Courier Times.
I could go on and on……I am very lucky that we got to reconnect when she moved into Country Meadow Village. I cherish the fact that I got to give back to such a special lady. My heart is full of joy at the that I carry her spirit and love of learning.
Know and be comforted in the fact that she touched literally thousands and thousands of students just like me during her long and devoted career. Her spirit and legacy lives on and I will always hear her saying “car” as only she could in her very East Coast MA accent.
I taught several years with Sheila and spent many times visiting her on the farm. I have lost touch over the years but have thought of her often. I will miss her and will be thinking of her family at this time with my thoughts and prayers.
Sr. Kath Silverthorn