Obituary of Ellen Louise (Stuwe) Lloyd

Ellen Louise (Stuwe) Lloyd,

January 8, 1927 - October 5, 2019

During a snowstorm, Ellen was born at home in Canby, Oregon, the youngest of 4 girls born to Elsie Margareta (Raddatz) and John Henry Stuwe. At the age of 8, the family moved to Mark Prairie, where her father worked on the Mark’s farm. Growing up with older sisters (Joanne, Marie, and Christine), she enjoyed using her imagination, spending her days making mud pies pretend roads and villages in the woods, homemade kites, and May baskets to surprise neighbors. She taught herself to sew by watching her mom and made doll clothes for the rest of her life. At 12, they moved back to Canby, where she lived till going to college in Salem, Oregon at Willamette University.

She met the love of her life, Alan Lloyd Jr., at her sister Christine's house in Portland. They married in 1952 and had three kids, Patty, David, and Margaret.

Ellen was a Cub Scout Den Mother, Camp Fire Girls leader, PTA Member, Day Camp counselor, seamstress, cook, and all-around keeper of the house. Her volunteer work at Woodlawn Elementary School, helping in the library and as a reading tutor, led to a part-time job as a Library Aid. While she never learned to drive, Alan would drive her and all the kids to their outings. In 1974 they bought a houseboat on the Multnomah Channel on Sauvie Island and enjoyed 21 years on the river. Grandkids Nicholas and Allison nicknamed them "Duck" Grandma and Grandpa because of the mallard ducks on the river. They entertained with crawdad feeds, viewing parties of the Christmas Ships, slumber parties with the grandkids, and combined birthday parties for Alan and granddaughter Allison who share a birthday. After volunteering, Ellen found her dream job as the librarian at Sauvie Island Elementary School and produced the Sauvie Island newsletter. She made five dollhouses with Alan's help.

Ellen was the family historian besides being an avid reader and Scrabble player. She and Alan spent a summer visiting and interviewing family near and far. She typed and compiled the story of "The Family of Alan Arthur & Mary Alice Lloyd" in 1990/1991 and gave copies to the family at the reunion in Yakima. After Ellen and Alan retired, they moved to Ya-Po-Ah Terrace in Eugene. There she rekindled her love of gardening. The family was very important to Ellen and Alan, and for many years they would plan family vacations at the beach, at a hotel in town, or in Bend to stay connected. With eight grandkids and 14 great-grandkids, extra kids were always welcome. Moving back to Portland, she had a rooftop garden at The Hazelwood, and then health challenges led them to The Forum at Town Center Village Assisted Living. She battled Parkinson's for 12 years, always trying to stay as active as possible, going to support groups, exercising, and staying up to date on all the latest research. She lived the best life she could for 92 years.

The family held a celebration of life on May 21, 2022, in Corbet, Oregon. Their ashes were blended amid a field of wildflowers at Rowena Crest, during a sunset ceremony, overlooking the Columbia River.

May 24th would have been their 70th wedding anniversary.