Doris Fern Cottingham Ellis

Born February 10, 1931 in Oceanside, California, Doris was the youngest of five children of Louis and Edith (Lincoln) Cottingham. Her father was the first municipal court judge of Oceanside, the town Doris always considered her home. She maintained lifelong friendships with her schoolmates, Marilyn and Marguerite, who were in touch with her until her passing.

Doris had a sense of adventure from a young age which continued throughout her life. Her father took their family on camping excursions to his native Canada, and on many other hunting and fishing expeditions in the United States. Her family also owned a ranch in Fallbrook where they rode horses and had a shooting range. At age 23, Doris and her mother drove cross-country to Quebec/Montreal, stopping in more than 15 states along their journey.

Doris worked as a Court Clerk in San Diego County before meeting Paul R. Ellis of Indiana while he was stationed at Camp Pendleton. They were married in 1959 and took their honeymoon along Route 66. Doris and Paul relocated to Los Angeles County, where they had two daughters and one son. They lived in Westchester and Granada Hills in their early years and, after the Sylmar earthquake in 1971, moved to Torrance where they resided for 44 years. While raising their children, Doris worked for the Department of Social Services in Long Beach until she retired in November 1992.

Doris played the piano, baked, sewed and knitted every child in our extended family their own unique Christmas stocking (which many of us still have today). She enjoyed taking long walks, league bowling, attending church, working in the snack shack at Little League games, participating in Brownie/Girl and Cub/Boy Scouts, PTA membership, going on YMCA camping adventures, taking many family road trips, and loved unconditionally every day.

Mother taught us so much through her patience and wisdom: how to be resourceful, trustworthy, generous and creative – and most of all, kind. She never swore or raised her voice; she didn’t need to, she always got her point across with gentle suggestions and continuous support. Doris had quiet dignity and friendly grace, and her beautiful smile was always ready to share.

In 1982, Doris welcomed her only grandchild with loving arms and cherished her two great-grandchildren upon their arrivals in 2004 and 2005. She fulfilled her dream of taking her family (4 generations) on cruises to Hawaii in 2008 and Alaska in 2012. Doris enjoyed seeing her great-grandkids grow up and attended every birthday party and many special outings with them, as recent as September 6.

Sadly, Doris fell on September 9, breaking her hip, and succumbed to complications on November 21, 2015. She is preceded in death by her parents; brother Lloyd; sisters Evelyn and Joyce; and husband Paul (who passed on her birthday February 10, 2014). Doris is survived by her children Paula, Dorothy and David; granddaughter Crystal; her husband Steve Duron; great-grandchildren Ryan and Kaitlyn; and sister, Helen.

Services will be on Friday, December 11, at Eternal Hills Memorial Park in Oceanside, CA with Visitation at 12 noon, Funeral at 1 p.m., and Internment at 2 p.m.

We miss and love you. May you rest in peace … you’ve found your way home.