Ms. Shirley T. Ellison

Shirley married John Henry Ellison (deceased) on August 27, 1951, in Stockton, California. They began their life together while her husband served in the Military, stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington. During that time, he served a tour in the Korean War. Upon their return to Stockton, they first lived in Edison Villa; then moved into their brand-new home on Phelps Street with their four young children in December 1955, where Shirley passed peacefully in her home of almost 68 years.

She devoted most of her adult life to her children, as a strong loving mother, guiding them through her values learned from her religious upbringing. She kept her Holy Bible by her bedside and read from it every night.

Her strength and love were not limited to just her offspring but was extended to so many people down through the years. This shared love made others feel like they were part of her family. Truth be told, they were in her heart and therefore family in her eyes. She touched so many lives, and was affectionately known as Shirley T., Ms. Shirley, Mom, Mama, grandma, grand-granny, and great great-granny.

She especially enjoyed her time working in the cafeteria at Stagg High School for almost 18 years, where all the children called her grandma. There were many times students were hungry and didn’t have money to purchase food. With the caring heart of a grandma, she made sure no child was without food to eat.

We all have our bucket list, with those things we would like to accomplish before we pass. Two items on the top of her list were to go Skydiving and to get a tattoo. Well, in March of 2013, she boarded a small plane in Galt, California that took her up above 14,000 feet and, in a flash, she was able to check that off her list. That same year, she got a butterfly tattooed on her ankle in celebration of her 78th birthday. She enjoyed life to the fullest.

Shirley T. Ellison was preceded in death by her husband, John Henry Ellison, their daughter Sylvia Ann Ellison, and her only brother, Perrie Deloney Phillips.

She was a devoted wife and loving mother, survived by her six children: James Arthur Ellison of Stockton, California; Elgenia Lee Ellison-Perez of Vallejo, California; Johnny Ellison of Stockton, California; Donald Eugene Ellison of Vallejo, California; Kathleen Yvonne Ellison-Massey of Stockton, California; David Norman Ellison of Benica, California, fifteen grandchildren, along with a host of great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, relatives and friends.

A visitation for Shirley will be held Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at DeYoung Memorial Chapel, 601 N California St, Stockton, California 95202, followed by a chapel service at 2:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.deyoungmemorialchapel.com for the Ellison family.