Carol J. Ellis, 82, of Terre Haute, Indiana has shed her earthly suffering and is surely dancing with the angels in her heavenly home.  She entered the world on December 3, 1942 as the firstborn to John and Mildred Wolverton in Flint, Michigan who taught her to look after those she loves, to be compassionate toward those in need, and to be curious about the world around her.  Carol was a Girl Scout and synchronized swimmer in her youth. Her first job was doing office work and stocking supplies for Dr. Kauffman who fostered her interest in the medical world. In 1960 she graduated from Southwestern High School.  She went on to study Education at the University of Michigan, Flint while working in manufacturing. She was part of the canoe club and graduated in 1962 when she began student teaching.  

In 1964 Carol married her longtime friend and love, Charles Ellis. His career led them to upstate NY where she taught before giving her full-time attention to raising their children. She enjoyed neighborhood Bible studies, Bridge groups, and often played piano and sang-along. She earned her Master’s degree in Elementary Education from the State University of New York, Albany and became a teacher at Shenendehowa Central School District. Chuck and Carol enjoyed a richly blessed life with incredible friends in Clifton Park. Together, they did it all! They raised a close-knit family, traveled, played a lot of bridge, had careers that they loved, and welcomed friends into their home as though they were family. Carol was a devoted caregiver in her husband’s last fifteen years of life.  In each season of life that brought Carol hardship she deepened her faith and discovered new ways to live it out. Wherever she lived, Carol found a church home. Most recently, she found her church home at Cross Lane Community Church where she enjoyed praising, worshiping, learning, and encouraging others.

All of her life Carol found great joy in perfectly accessorized outfits, well-planned parties, generous smiles, and warm hugs.  She had a gift for making work more fun by playing music and doing it with others. The rebel in her always rooted for the underdog whether that underdog was a sports team with the low score or a student in her classroom without all of the advantages the other kids had. She liked it when life was fair and made it more fair whenever she could.  She always loved a good story, a great melody, and relaxed games with friends and family-especially if everyone could win at least once.

Carol appreciated her heritage and pursued a deeper understanding of family lineage with her mother. They were delighted to learn about our Native American lineage. Becoming a member and later an Elder of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians were proud and humbling events. She had a beautiful connection with the majesty of nature and took great care in giving her children and grandchildren Native American names. She embraced all that she could learn about tribal traditions and culture and especially enjoyed exploring that culture with family.

In her youth, her favorite memories were of family and friends at the family Cottage at Houghton Lake. She recalled gathering wild berries on Sunday drives singing songs like When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin’ Along. She joyfully remembered quality time with family while camping in upstate NY, reading Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys mysteries or Choose Your Own Adventure books by the campfire, gathering more wild berries for pie, hiking and canoeing on a summer’s day and a bit of cross-country skiing when there was fresh snow.  As she became blessed with grandchildren, she connected generations singing All the Pretty Little Ponies, going to the zoo, hosting backyard campouts, and reading storybooks.

Later in life she traded in her camping for surf, sand, and sunsets in Sarasota, FL with family. Ultimately, that’s where she met the second love of her life, Larry Parker.  His love helped her be carefree and fun-loving.  With him, her singing, dancing, and silliness blossomed.  After Larry’s passing, Carol enjoyed her Sunset home in Terre Haute, IN finding dear new neighbors and church friends to share her smiles and hugs with.

Carol dedicated most of her life to the people in it and loving them well. Her life was shaped by family that preceded her in death including her husband, Charles Ellis, dear friend and love, Larry Parker, parents, John and Mildred Wolverton, William Ellis and Ilis and Charles Winfield, brothers and sisters James Wolverton, David and Valerie Ellis, Harold Ellis, Gene Hagerman, Jean and Lyle Picklemann, bonus daughter, Diana Sexton and her dear friends, Diane, Anne, Gloria and Armand, Delores and Don, Kathy, Jim, and Mabel.

Carol’s life will be celebrated by family who survive her including her children, Mark and Teresa Ellis, Paul and Sherry Ellis, and Diane and James Hanson; grandchildren, Patrick, Max, Marina, Angela and Connor, and Keith; aunt, Barbara Murphy; brothers and sisters, Judy and Michael Hallas; Wilma Hagerman, Barbara Wolverton; bonus children, Kurt Parker, Rusty and Martha Parker, their children and grandchildren; treasured cousins, nieces, and nephews; and friends who remember her fondly from her life-well-lived in and around Flint, MI, Clifton Park, NY,  Sarasota, FL, and Terre Haute, IN.

Her family extends a heartfelt thank you to those who selflessly provided her compassionate spiritual care and healthcare and those who facilitated her graceful passing at Union Health, the Gibson Family Center for Hospice Care, and SouthernCare Hospice.

A celebration of Carol’s life will be planned for springtime. In lieu of flowers, honor Carol by giving a gift to your local church, planting a tree, rooting for the underdog, thanking a teacher, smiling, hugging someone you love, or singing and dancing freely.