Shirley Jane Ellis, born August 19th, 1955, passed away peacefully in her sleep after a brave battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) on January 18th, 2024. Shirley was one of six children born to Betty Louise (West) Eldredge and Daniel Nickerson Eldredge. She was sister to beloved older brother the late Jimmy Eldredge. She is survived by her husband of 42 years Scott Ellis of Chatham and her four sisters: Mary Karen Rutherford and husband Chris of East Sandwich, Cathy Eldredge of Harwich, Patti Taylor and husband Michael of Orleans and Amy St. Aubin and husband Chris of Beddington, Maine. Shirley is also survived by her three children: Jesse Ellis and Anthony Aguilar of Holbrook, Nick Ellis and wife Brie of Mashpee and April Williams and Husband Kary of Yarmouth. Shirley had seven grandchildren: Nevaeh, Jaheim, Mea, Jayden, Taryn, Ava, and Jordan. She loved her three silly chickens: Kary, Batty Chick and Miss Maple.
Shirley and Scott were great friends with Nancy and John Huether. They had a strong connection with their mutual love for animals, particularly horses and dogs. She enjoyed visiting John’s horse Fizz and all of Nancy’s great big dogs. Shirley loved and missed her own dogs Cam and Otis.
Shirley was always a tomboy. She would tag-a-long with Jimmy and the boys. She could keep up with them, whether it be swimming, diving, skating, hockey, baseball, football, or riding bikes at top speed. She was great at all sports, particularly softball and tennis. She even gave tennis lessons. She was always ready to lend a helping hand and show others how to play sports and games. Shirley took after her father and grandfather in her love for horses and horseback riding. She always followed the rules. She was a team player and a good sport.
And then there were the girls, Shirley was the leader among her sisters, the oldest and a little mother hen. They would go on picnics in the woods and gather berries. She would help them with their homework. Shirley would direct plays that they would put on for mom and dad, such as The Night Before Christmas. She was great at sewing and would make clothes and costumes. Shirley even got to star as Mary in the church Christmas pageant. When she was older and had her own car, she would bring her sisters to the movies and give them rides. She was always helping and doing things for others. She was very close with her sisters. In more recent years they had their special outings, and they’d go on their “sister walks’ all over the Cape. They’d kayak, or paddleboard and go out for lunch. They’d swim in Karen’s pool or go to Nauset Beach to brave the waves and look for shark fins. Shirley was always up for an adventure.
Scott and Shirley met playing volleyball. Their wedding was at the herring run at Stony Brook in Brewster, one of Shirley’s favorite places. They both loved sports and the outdoors. Some of their favorite things to do together were camping, kayaking, yardwork, and gardening. They played on a local softball team together. They loved going to Red Sox games and Patriots games and watching sports on T.V. They each had a dog; Shirley had a German Shephard named Mocha and Scott had a golden Retriever named Daisy. They also loved skating. They were on the adult precision team together and would perform in the shows. They were very involved with The Charles Moore Arena.
Shirley had a little encounter with fame when she got to act as an extra in the movie The Finest Hours, which was filmed primarily in Chatham. She met Chris Pine and Casey Affleck. Scott and Shirley loved exploring the sets and talking with the crew. There was also a big cast party at the end and the extras were treated like stars.
Shirley had three children: Jesse, Nick, and April. She was an amazing mother. She always put her kids first. She supported them in everything they did. She was their biggest cheerleader, there at all the baseball games, softball, hockey, skating shows and competitions. She would sew Halloween costumes, skating outfits, doll clothes and toys. She made things fun. There were always lots of projects. Shirley loved arts and crafts. She loved all the seasons and holidays. She had decorations for every occasion. She would build snowmen with the kids and make igloos. She made couch forts and baked treats. They’d go on nature walks with family at Fort Hill and Doane Rock. She’d leave surprises on the kitchen table. Shirley would even send “happy boxes” in the mail.
Shirley loved doing things everyone all together. Some of her favorite places to go were Jellystone Park and Nickerson State Park. The whole family would meet to camp, ride bikes, go rollerblading. They’d have barbeques and picnics. They’d swim and go tubing, waterskiing and knee boarding. Those paths saw many dog walks. In winter, they’d go skating on the ponds, or on the little one at her parent’s house. There were many happy memories of family gatherings at The Homestead”. There were potlucks and cookouts, parties, and holidays. The family was big and loud and full of love and laughter.
Shirley had seven grandchildren that she loved with all her heart. She got to make things special all over again with them. She loved being a “Nanny”. She went to their football games and concerts. She did Easter egg hunts and trick-or-treating. They would go apple picking. She had a playground in the back yard and loved having the kids over. Some of her favorite places to take her grandkids were Taylor Bray Farm, The Brewster Museum of Natural History, Edaville Railroad and Heritage Museums and Gardens.
Shirley also had 12 nieces and nephews: Shilo, Amber, Martha, Cory, Casey, Lindsey, Seth, Autumn, Jeremiah, Jasmine, Ethan, and Owen. She loved getting together and catching up with them.
Maine always had a special place in Shirley’s heart. She loved Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor. Her sister Amy moved to Maine. She would visit and stay in her “Blueberry Cottage”. They’d ride ATV’s, explore the natural landscape, and go antiquing. Shirley would help process the vegetables on the farm and care for the menagerie of animals.
Shirley had a green thumb just like her mother did. There were always plants and flowers, raspberry bushes, fruit trees and vegetables on the property. Some of her famous recipes were lasagna, strawberry shortcake, cinnamon rolls, peach cobbler, and candied walnuts. But the thing she was most known for was her jelly. She made different flavors, but her signature was beach plum jelly made from handpicked Cape Cod beach plums. Shirley was very giving and selfless. She was a native Cape Codder and an Eldredge girl.
One can’t help, but remember her smile
She spreads cheer wherever she goes
Shirley, you will never be forgotten
For goodbye is not your word
It is toodles, that’s your saying
Or a little toodle-oo
When you’re silly toodle-oo-ee
With a wave, a honk, that’s you
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