Wanda Lee Ellis

IN MEMORY OF MY SISTER This writing is a eulogy of my dear sister, Wanda Lee (Hall) Ellis, who died on Sunday, May 14, 2023, in her home at 8539 Rosalee Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63144, ( Brentwood area.) Wanda was a very kind and generous person. She thought of others before herself. When I visited her, she treated me like a queen. She entertained me lavishly. Many times, she would take me to the Pere Marquette Lodge in Grafton, Illinois, for Thanksgiving dinner. She took me often to The Blue Owl Restaurant, which is in a small town close to St. Louis. We also enjoyed dining together in the Italian section of St. Louis. She took me to museums and other places of interest. She took me to see some really good plays at one of the Community Centers. She would always have bottled water and special treats beside my bed for me in her guest bedroom. Wanda was a loving, caring, and sensitive person. She was willing to sacrifice her time and money to do volunteer work in various capacities at her place of worship. The "Center" became her life's work and main interest. Wanda was a good wife and worked alongside her husband, Ray, at their country property, which they considered their "get-away" place. My Mother would often say, "Wanda worked like a man on that property." Wanda helped Ray in the setting of fence posts, building a road up to their trailer home, which was on an incline.; building an outhouse; adding a porch with a swing; and accomplishing other projects they found to do. Wanda also helped Ray in his furniture-making and refinishing business. Wanda was a devoted caregiver of Ray until the day he died from Parkinson's disease. Before Ray's illness, Wanda and Ray traveled many times not only in this country but overseas as well. After Ray passed, Wanda took many trips which were offered by a couple of the Community Centers. She included me on some of those trips when I would visit. Wanda was an accomplished artist, and for many years was an active participant in an art club. Wanda was close to our Mother, Eva (Allen) Hall, and to our brother, Dale Alan Hall; both of whom preceded Wanda in death. There was a period when my sister and I were not close, which was due to the divergent of activities rather than to any breach in the relationship. It was later in life that we became very close and we could share things that we wouldn't, in all probability, share with anyone else. When Wanda's illness prevented her from being active and going about, I made it a point to telephone her every day. I think she appreciated the calls. One of the things I have often thought about from our childhood was how we would play with paper-dolls together on the bed. Another highlight from childhood was how Dad gave us an allowance of .10 cents a week. When we got it we would go to the local grocery store and I would buy .10 cents worth of candy, and Wanda would buy comic books, and then we would share our treasures together. One thing I always held against Wanda (just Joking, but I do remember it) was when I had a doll suitcase for doll clothes made out of cardboard, and Wanda sat on it and crushed it. I was heartbroken because we didn't have a lot of toys like kids do nowadays. To this day I have a feeling it was done on purpose. How very precious Wanda was to me, and I have a deep sadness at her passing. I pray that the Almighty God has put his arms around her, extending mercy and love to her and that she is in His kingdom to live eternally in His presence. I pray God's blessing on all those who helped Wanda while she was here on this earth, and whose life touched hers in a meaningful way, in little or big ways. And I pray blessings on all those whose life was touched by Wanda's life in little or big ways. May we each realize how fleeting our life is, and never take for granted those we love and care about because they can so quickly be taken from us.

Wanda Lee Ellis

January 12, 1928 - May 14, 2023