Ellen Louise Read

Ellen Louise Read passed away December 24, 2024 at Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Red Bluff. She was born April 11, 1967 at the old Saint Elizabeth Hospital and except for traveling; she spent her entire life in Red Bluff.

Ellen proudly told people that she had Down Syndrome. She started her education at the age of 3 when the Tehama County Department of Education opened a Development Center in Corning. She attended special education classes at Gerber, Berrendos and Vista. She graduated from Red Bluff High School in 1988. Following graduation, she worked at the rest area north of Red Bluff for North Valley Service for 22 years. While attending RBUHS, she was the manager for the girls’ junior basketball team. She attended class reunions and enjoyed doing a memorial balloon release.

She went to the state Special Olympics at UCLA where she won a gold medal in Frisbee throwing. She also received a medal in bowling.

Ellen enjoyed traveling and spending summer vacation at Santa Cruz where she loved the Boardwalk, especially the tilt a whirl. She also went with family to the Hawaiian Islands and to Disney World in Florida.

Ellen attended Camp Woodhill at Eagle Lake where she worked her way up from camper to junior counselor. She rode horseback in the Northern California Riding Academy’s drill team at the Red Bluff Round Up. She loved the Round Up and made special friends including announcer Bob Tallman and John Payne, the One Arm Bandit.

She enjoyed dancing and wrote poetry. She was a 4H member and gave sign language demonstrations. She and her mother sold vegetables at the Farmer’s Market from her 4-H project. She loved weddings and was a bridesmaid and guest book attendant. Ellen had several collections, including menus, thimbles and rocks.

She is survived by her mother Anne Read, her uncle Richard Read, and cousins including Lana, Lane and Jeffrey Johnson , Karen Read Ebinger and Karla Read Estelle, childhood friends Dana Beebe Cantoni and Lisa Beebe and dear friends Marni and Jeff Havens. She is predeceased by her father John Read and grandmothers Constance Crowder and Daisy Read.

A graveside service will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, 11AM, January 9th, followed by a celebration of life at the Red Bluff Elks Lodge. Memorial donations may be made to Tehama County Special Olympics, or the Read Family Scholarship, Red Bluff Union High School District, P.O, Box 1507, Red Bluff, CA 96080.