Gerry M. Ellis

August 4, 1928 - April 18, 2020

Gerry Ellis, 91 years, died on Saturday, April 18, 2020 at Simpson House, the community where she had lived for nearly seven years, from complications related to COVID-19. Born in Toledo, Ohio on August 4, 1928 to Paul and Ruth Norris (nee Sterling), She grew up in the Point Place section of Toledo. Her mother and mother's family were musicians and her love of music started early. She graduated from Waite High School in 1946 and served on her class reunion committee for decades. She was the fastest typist in her class back when those stats mattered. She raised her family with her husband Bill Ellis in West Toledo, and was an active participant in neighborhood gatherings both formal and informal. She served as a school room mother and a Girl Scout troop leader and over her lifetime supported her two daughters' interests and endeavors completely. As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she was constant and devoted. She never missed a report card conference, a birthday, a recital, a game or a graduation. Her grandsons recalled her letting them roll canned goods across her kitchen floor, teaching them gin rummy and always letting them win and testing out new recipes on them. She loved all types of music especially jazz. Her favorite was a trio of piano, drums and stand up bass and she sought out live music venues regularly. In classical music, it was the resonant deeper register of a cello or oboe. She sang alto in all her church choirs, loved choral music and could harmonize in any range or key. She could and on occasion did quite literally harmonize in her sleep. She loved to dance as those of her generation learned to do and do well. She could lead as well as follow with the best and was always on look out for a worthy dance partner. She exercised regularly through her years, with television's Jack Lalaine, on to group aerobic dance and then to 30 minutes a day on the Nordic track while watching the news. She was regular at a women's fitness summer camp. She was a long-term member of Pilgrim United Church of Christ, serving also as their beloved secretary for 30 years through five senior pastors. One of them saw her other gifts and asked her to make pastoral visits to shut-ins and those in retirement communities like ones where she would eventually live. She loved it. She continued as a faithful member after retirement and served on several local and national UCC boards. When Pilgrim chose to leave the UCC she returned to the congregation of her childhood, Point Place UCC until she moved to Philadelphia where she joined St. Luke and the Epiphany Episcopal Church. She sewed clothes from patterns like all the women of her era but on the domestic side she was known famously for her pie baking over decades. She would make friends and family any kind of pie they requested, on demand and they did. She did the newspaper crossword everyday until she could not. She loved sports, baseball and basketball and football in that order. It was Detroit Tigers and Pistons all the way. Her smile of which everyone remarked and remembered, was not only on the surface but was an authentic reflection of her spirit and her deep and true appreciation for all people and life as it came. When it was time to leave the house on Elmview Drive which she lived in for nearly 60 years, she moved to Philadelphia in 2013 and took up residence at Simpson House, where she made many new friends among the residents and staff. She bore the changes and chances of life with grace and beauty for which she was and will continue to be a model to family and friends. She loved driving and made regular road trips to Philadelphia and elsewhere well into her 80's. She would drop everything and meet up for a meal, a spontaneous family gathering or musical concert of any kind at any time of the day or night. Survivors include her brother Bob Norris (Nancy), daughters Vicki Ellis and, Linda Black (Steve), grandsons; Steven and Mark (Megan) Black; great grandchildren; Olivia, Jacob, Isabella; nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends in Toledo and Philadelphia, especially Susan Kettell and Terry Mond, and more recently her dear friend, Margie Butler of Simpson House. She was preceded in death by her former husband, Bill Ellis, brother James Lamping and sister Ruth Davis. The family is deeply grateful for the extraordinary compassionate care and kindnesses given to our mother by all the staff of Simpson House, especially; Hareg Abebe, Nadaira Jones, Vangie Smith, Alicia Carr, Ann Marie Josephs, Rev. Bob Walk and so many others. Services will be held at a future time. Memorial gifts may be directed to Simpson House, 2101 Belmont Ave., Phila., PA 19131. Arr. Dinan Funeral Home, Phila. Condolences may also be sent to www.dinanfuneralhome.com