Ellen Katherine Garrett

Ellen Katherine Garrett, age 84, died of complications related to renal and hypertensive stress on Thursday, April 30th, 2020, in St. Petersburg, FL. Ellen is survived by her children, Kathy Broughton, Jimmy Broughton and wife, Suzie, Tommy Broughton and wife, Pam, Barbara Dillman and husband, Dave and Greg Garrett and wife, Michelle. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Michael, David, Justin, Lucas, and Isabella and her great-grandchildren: Gage, Katie and Rayvin. Ellen is preceded in death by her father Edward Schwarz and mother, Helen Schwarz.

Ellen was born on Tuesday, January 28th, 1936 in Union City, New Jersey, to parents, Edward P. Schwarz and Helen M. Schwarz-Busch. She moved to St. Petersburg in 1982 and worked at the office of Piper, Shafer, Karvignon, and Lewis until her retirement.

Ellen cherished her family, her church and her friends. She was a deeply affectionate woman, who was heavily active in her church, both as a member and active participant in their ongoing charitable activities. In her later years, she enjoyed supporting her church family’s efforts to support less advantaged children by hand knitting hundreds of scarves which were then delivered to locations across the globe. Ellen enjoyed reading books, crocheting, puzzling and playing cards with her friends and family. Most recently, she enjoyed diamond painting, candy crush, her canary’s (Peaches and Cream) and keeping in touch with friends and family on Facebook. In her youth, she was an active bowler and later in life she thoroughly enjoyed going on cruises with her friends, regularly attending movies with her daughter and participating in her church’s bible study classes.

Ellen and her family will be forever grateful for the love and support Ellen received from her family at City on a Hill Church. Pastor Mike Conaway and the rest of the church family were so very dear to Ellen, her faith and the love of her friends sustained her heart and soul with joy. The family will hold a memorial for her on May 16th for family members and will coordinate with Pastor Mike to determine an appropriate celebration of life for Ellen with her COHA family once the pandemic passes.