Obituary of Helen Alice Ellis

Helen Ellis, age 93, passed away on October 8, 2015 of pneumonia with her surviving children, Patty and Kenn, at her side. Born Helen Alice Julianel to Lewis and Alta Julianel in Visalia, CA, she was the youngest of three children, with a sister, Wilma, and a brother Volney. Her father was minister of the First Baptist Church in San Francisco for 21 years. She graduated from Commerce High School in San Francisco in 1939. She joined the Women's Army Corps in 1944, and served in Army Medical Units in Indianapolis, Cleveland, and Battle Creek. In 1947 she married Richard M. Beck. Helen worked as an accounting clerk in Tehachapi, CA, Indio, CA, and Los Banos, CA. She married Gale R. Ellis in 1960. Helen enjoyed fraternal organizations and joined the Rebekahs in 1974, serving three terms as Noble Grand and three terms as District Deputy President. In 1979 she joined the Order of the Eastern Star, serving twice as Worthy Matron and as Deputy Grand Matron, receiving a Service Award from the Los Banos Chapter of the OES in 1996. Most of all, Helen loved church and her greatest desire was to spend eternity with the entire family. She loved the Lord from childhood and was active in churches in all cities where she resided, a member of Twin Lakes Church in Aptos since 1990. She served as an interim pianist in her father's church in San Francisco in the 1940's, and continued to play hymns on her piano throughout her life. Her family will always remember her love of playing games at family gatherings, and she enjoyed movies, music, reading, and traveling. Her friends will also remember playing games with Helen; she was a skilled, yet humble Pinochle player, and an ace at Words With Friends on her iPad. Helen is survived by her daughter Patricia Amarante of Santa Cruz, son Kenneth Ellis and his wife Christine of Scotts Valley, daughter-in-law Carol Beck of Hemet, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Gale Ellis, son Richard Beck, and daughter Barbara Beck. A Celebration of Life will be held Wednesday, October 14, at 10:00 a.m. at the Oakwood Memorial Chapel, 3301 Paul Sweet Road, Santa Cruz. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066.