Marjorie Louise Ellis

READFIELD – Marjorie Louise Ellis passed away on Nov. 25, 2024, at the age of 90 in Readfield. Despite her declining health over the past two years, she maintained her warm smile and personality with her family and caregivers.

Marjorie was born in the family farmhouse in Palatine, Ill., to Edward Homeier and Mathilda Langhoff Homeier. Throughout her childhood years, Marjorie performed chores alongside her two older sisters, Mildred and Marie, on the dairy farm. They attended a one-room elementary school, and the three sisters developed a close bond, which they maintained throughout their adult lives.

Marjorie attended Palatine High School and graduated in 1951. During her high school years, she met Ira Ellis. Upon graduation, Marjorie took on employment at Bell Telephone Company. Soon after, Marjorie followed Ira to Columbia, S.C., and enrolled in Columbia International College. Marjorie and Ira were soon married, at which time she left school and went to work, while Ira continued his education in the ministry. Marjorie became an excellent typist while working within the insurance business.

Marjorie and Ira had three sons, Mark Wayne Ellis, Paul Kevin Ellis and Nathan David Ellis. Throughout the early years of their marriage, the young family lived in various locations as Ira’s work as a minister required. They had moved back to Palatine, Ill., then on to Burlington, Wash., and then to West Hollywood, Calif. One more move took them back to Illinois, where Marjorie accepted a key position in her career as the secretary to the Dean of Students at Judson College in Elgin, Ill. She held that position for four years until yet another move to Maine was in store. Once in Maine, Marjorie took on the role as Administrative Assistant at the American Baptist Convention of Maine. Marjorie was employed there for over 20 years. At one point, she became the Acting Executive Minister, a position that had never been held by a woman. When asked to consider remaining in the position, Marjorie deferred to her previous role. She felt it was more important to use her energies in raising her three boys, as that was the most important role to her.

As the years passed, she maintained a close relationship with her two best friends, sisters Mildred and Marie, although they lived in California, Illinois and Maine respectively, but the distance did not deter them. Every five years, they planned a family reunion. The first one took place in 1997 in Dundee, Ill. The second took place in 2002 at Yosemite National Park, Calif. The third in 2007 was hosted by Marjorie and Ira in Port Clyde. The fourth reunion took place in Galena, Ill., in 2012. Marie always said, “the distance keeps us close” and Marjorie once said, “the family reunions are what I live for.”

A “mini reunion” took place in Dundee, Ill., in August of 2021. It would prove to be bittersweet, as it was the last time the three sisters were together.

Over the years, there were hardships to endure. In January of 2005, grandson Troy passed away. Later that year, son Paul also passed away. In 2022, daughter-in-law Tina Ellis passed away, as did Marjorie’s sister Marie. These losses “left a hole in my heart,” said Marjorie.

Last August, Marjorie and Ira celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Their marriage took them across the country. They raised their three boys and made many good friends along the way. They particularly enjoyed their days in Port Clyde, where Ira served as pastor at the Port Clyde Baptist Church for over 10 years. Marjorie and Ira had many close friends from that congregation.

Marjorie is survived by her sister, Mildred Lester of Cameron Park, Calif., son Mark Ellis and wife Lee Ann of Rome, son Nathan Ellis of Sun Lakes, Ariz., granddaughter Jessica Coombs and husband Robert of Thomaston, granddaughter Hannah Burns and husband Michael of Portage, Mich., grandson Adam Ellis and wife Katie of Norway, granddaughter Courtney Grams and husband Hunter of Gilbert, Ariz., and grandson Jerrod Ellis and wife Vannessa of Seattle, Wash.

Marjorie is survived by eight great-grandchildren: Mikayla Cogswell, Gavin Ellis, Haley Ellis, Leila Ellis, Haidyn Grams, Carter Grams, Jasmine O’Farrell, Derek O’Farrell and one great-great grandson, Emerson Cogswell.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her father, Edward Homeier, mother Mathilda Homeier, sister Marie Templin, husband Ira Ellis, son Paul Ellis, grandson Troy Ellis and daughter-in-law, Tina Ellis.

From “Be Still My Soul,” one of Marjorie’s favorite hymns:

“Be still, my soul; thy God doth undertake.

To guide the future as He has the past.

Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake.

All now mysterious shall be bright at last.”

A “Celebration of Life” will be held at the First Baptist Church located at 47 Church Street in Gardiner, at a date and time to be determined.

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 62 Bowdoin St., Winthrop, where condolences, memories and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of funeral home website http://www.khrfuneralhomes.com.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make donations to American Cancer Society and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.