Rose Lee Ellison

Rose Lee Ellison was born on August 13, 1928 in Los Angeles, CA to Harry and Rose Stancel, who was lovingly called Rose Lee and Grandma by her family and friends. She was raised in a loving family and had two brothers, Murphy Willridge, and Henry Stancel and two sisters, Mary Ida Keeling, and Audrey Stancel. Rose went on to be with the Lord on January 25th, 2013.

Rose graduated from Jefferson High School in Los Angeles. Rose was an avid reader, who enjoyed all types of sports and was quite the athlete.

On May 14, 1949 Rose married quite the character in the form of her late husband, Willie Dee “Boots” Ellison. It would take several pages to describe their unique relationship, but they were equals in every regard. The one thing that they had in common, other than the love of Rose’s cooking, was the love of their children. To their union, Rose brought two young daughters, Antoinette and Althea. Rose also welcomed Rodney Dean Ellison, Boots’s son from a previous union. Then the thundering herd started to appear. First there was Linza…then Gary…followed quickly by Denise and Julian, and then came Marie, Elaine, Ruthie and Willie, or “Blue Boy,” as he was affectionately called. Rose was proud to say that she had 10 children and loved each and every one of them.

Rose enjoyed a very successful career as a nurse with the San Bernardino County Department of Mental Health. She retired on February 13, 1990. Her supervisor on Ward B described Rose as the consummate professional who consistently demonstrated compassion for her patients and was a known team player. Throughout her tenure, her positive outlook and determined efforts were a true inspiration to her co-workers.

Family was always Rose’s #1 priority she was a very devoted mother. If there was a school event, game, or a party, Rose was always there front row and center. She and Boots had a partnership in which they there able to manage the activities and the well-being of all 10 children. Both Rose and Boots felt that education was the key to success. Whether it was law school, college, secretarial school or pre-school, the push for personal excellence was always the family standard. Her children and grandchildren were supported both from a financial and emotional point of view. Athletics were a key factor in this talented family. Rose and Boots parented and grand-parented some unbelievable athletes who have excelled in all sports, locally and internationally.

Rose’s parents, her husband Willie Dee Ellison, her daughters, Linza Johnson and Althea Bevins and brothers Murphy Willridge and Henry Stancel, and sisters Mary Ida Keeling and Audrey Stancel preceded her in death. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Rodney Dean (Jean) Ellison, Gary (Rachelle) Ellison, Denise McCarthy, Julian (Pam) Ellison, Marie (Kenji) Williams, Elaine Ellison, Ruthie (Peter) Brixie and Willie (Andrea) Ellison. Rose was blessed to have many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, all of whom will miss “Grandma”.

Grandchildren: Christiana and Jeffrey Farris, Nicole “Nikki” Perkins, Wendy Ellison (Roy) Allen, Rodney Dean Ellison, II, George “JR” (Jeneen) and Marcus(Eugenia) Johnson, Gentillesse Hamilton, Kali, Kaycee, Karoline Ellison, Kristen and Korbin McCarthy, Whitney Williams, Julian Ellison II, Sean Williams, Troy Wilson, Sakara, Garrett and Spenser Brewer, Jazzmene, Marsalis and Jade Ellison.

Great Grandchildren: Adrian Perkins, Sascha, Rodney III, Isaac and Maxwell Ellison; Christopher Ellison Allen, Jenae Johnson, Saniah Ellison, A nephew Edwin Willridge and niece Ellen”Junior” Willridge and a host of friends of other loved ones will also cherish memory.

Rose, we love you and will miss you so much.

Interment and repast will follow