Ellen M. Kurio

Ellen was born on the 16th of December 1938 in Kilgore, Texas to Thurman and Blanche Brodie. Ellen eventually made her way to Houston, Texas where she worked as a book keeper and met the man she would marry. While eating at the local drive in, Princess Burgers, she met her future husband, Bernhard “Bernie” Roy Kurio. Ellen and Bernie married and shortly after started the company that would change their lives forever, Kurio Drywall Company, Inc. Ellen and Bernie worked together for over thirty-six years and during this time ventured out into other aspects of the building business: Town & Country Concrete, Inc, Kurio Air Conditioning, Kurio Commercial Inc., Dome Capital Lumber Company, Kurio Trucking Company, Kurio Insulating Company, and finally Town & Country Trademart.

Ellen was amazing and her faith was contagious. She was truly an example for all of us to follow, a heart full of love, compassion and generosity. She chose to serve our precious Lord and Savior and she accomplished her goal as a good and faithful servant.

After Bernie's passing, Ellen began to pursue a passion she held deep within her heart, mission work. She traveled to many continents and served on numerous teams before she landed in Tapachula, Mexico. Mission On The Move, a home for orphans of incarcerated parents, won her heart along with all the children. Ellen sat on the board for several years and served this mission for the last twelve years. Recently she began seeking outside support from others to help fund the Higher Education division which would sponsor the children to receive additional schooling. Ellen was a faithful member of Chapelwood United Methodist Church where she was an Honorary Life Time Member of the Board of Stewards, and was active on many serving teams including the Global Mission Core Team. She served in the Emmaus community, was a Stephen Minister, a founding member of Mercy Street, and would work on any team in need. Ellen found a way to serve in every community she touched, lived or visited. Ellen's heart was big enough for all. While her passion was in missions, it was also in her four grandchildren. When it came to her grandchildren you would find her anywhere from playing basketball, to riding bikes, sitting in the rain to watch a game, standing at the skate park, on a dogsled ride in Canada to a tree house in Costa Rica. Ellen, “Nans,” was the grandmother you dreamed about: she loved big and gave big, always available and always present.

Ellen loved to travel and began traveling the world with one of her best friends thirty years ago. She loved the culture and history of other countries but Italy was her favorite. Ellen loved the beach and enjoyed spending time at her beach house in Galveston when she wasn't serving others.

Ellen was predeceased by her husband, Bernhard “Bernie”Roy Kurio; parents, Thurman and Blanche Turner Brodie; and her twin sister, Gladys Irene Brodie. She is survived by her three children, Belynda Mae Kurio (Mark White), Pamela Renee' Kurio Poe, and Mark Bernhard Kurio; and her four grandchildren, Mark Christopher Poe, Jr., Brodie Brucato Poe, Brannon Bernhard Poe, and Hayden Harrison White.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from four o’clock in the afternoon until six o’clock in the evening on Sunday, the 28th of February, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

The memorial service will be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Monday, the 29th of February, in the Sanctuary of Chapelwood United Methodist Church, 11140 Greenbay Street in Houston. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the Church Parlor.

Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.

In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions, in memory of Ellen M Kurio, may be directed to Mission On The Move- Tapachula Homes for Higher Education, P.O. Box 206, Springfield, GA 31329.