Theresa Marie Ellis

July 8, 1941 – November 10, 2024

Theresa Marie Ellis passed away on November 10, 2024, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Olympia, WA following a brief illness. Terri was born on July 8, 1941, in Everett Washington to Peter & Mary McCormack of Wrangell, Alaska. She married Mike Ellis, in 1963 and together they had two children, Margaret (Mitzi) and Michael (Mick).

Terri grew up between Wrangell and the Seattle area spending her early childhood in Wrangell before the family moved to Seattle where she finished high school at Blanchett in Seattle. She was elected royalty as a Prom Princess for her Senior Prom. After graduating from high school she worked in Seattle and San Francisco before returning to Alaska to enter in the Southeast Alaska Ferry System Queen contest which she won and was elected Miss Ferry Queen. She was referred to as the Belle of the Stikine and rode the MV Malaspina to Juneau where she and the ship were received in a large celebration.

She accepted a sales position with PanAm and moved to Ketchikan where she met and soon married Michael (Mike) R. Ellis from Ketchikan. Terri was sent to London, U.K. by PanAm for training. Terri and Mike honeymooned in Hawaii and settled into life in Ketchikan for a little while before moving to Juneau where Mitzi was born, then to Haines and finally Fairbanks where Mick was born. Terri moved to Anchorage with Mitzi and Mick in 1976 where they lived until both were out of school.

In Anchorage Terri flourished in the banking industry spending many years at Alaska USA FCU and then a few years with National Bank of Alaska (NBA) before retiring.

Terri was passionate about helping with many charities but had a special place in her heart for the American Cancer Society where she played a large role in collecting and then distributing bunches of daffodils for the annual “Daffodil Days” charity each year.

Terri enjoyed spending time with family, playing games like Mahjong and 65. In recent years, Terri began to explore her creativity with watercolor painting and enjoyed painting flowers and cute gnomes that she would regularly give out as gifts.

Terri is survived by her children, Mitzi Bookman and Mick Ellis, her sisters Kathleen and Mary and her brothers, Jim, Greg & Mike.

A memorial service to celebrate Terri’s life will be held on Tuesday, November 19th, 2024 at 12 p.m. at St. Michael’s Parish. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society.

The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to the doctors and nurses at Providence St. Peter’s Hospital in Olympia, WA for their compassionate care.

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