Laura Marie Linnenkohl Ellis
Laura was born May 30, 1929 to Ernest C. and Alice (Alexander) Linnenkohl at her family’s home on Lafayette Street in North Aberdeen , and died at her home in Aberdeen, Monday, November 10, 2014. She attended Alexander Young Grade School; Miller Junior High School; and graduated from Weatherwax High School in 1947. She attended Grays Harbor College for two years.
Her family owned Linnenkohl’s Hardware which first opened in 1936. She began working in her family business at the age of 6, holding gunnysacks to be filled with coal and sold for 50 cents each. After the 10th grade she became the bookkeeper for the business. She was very shy and didn’t help customers at first. The family business was hardware and furniture, both new and used and later rental apartments.
Following a ten year marriage to William W. Ellis, and living in Kirkland, she returned to the family business in 1966 and assumed ownership of the store and managed it for over 30 years, retiring in 1997.
Laura was a member of the Aberdeen and Hoquiam Eagles Auxiliary and served as President of the Aberdeen Auxiliary in 1994. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Aberdeen, and after taking organ lessons at the age of 50, she served as the summer organist for several years.
In her early years she was active in the Civilian Air Patrol, bowled on the Hayes Dairy Bowling Team and loved to dig clams. She was a member of the Nu Beta Phi Sorority and was an honorary member of Beta Sigma Phi. Laura was also a member of the KBKW Mug Club. She was on the AHS Class of 1947 reunion committee for many years and was in a Birthday Club with many of her childhood friends. Laura loved the color red, wearing hats and was known for riding around town on her electric scooter.
At the age of 36 she was afflicted with M.S. which took doctors 8 years to diagnose and name. She didn’t let it slow her down and kept busy playing the piano, organ, harmonica, and ukulele. She was a member of the Salmonberry Band. She liked to work with stained glass, build and furnish doll houses, braid rugs, refurbish furniture, make jewelry, and knit sweaters, slippers and afghans. She also made pressed flower greeting cards that she would send to her family and friends.
Laura is survived by her three children; Jacque Ellis and her husband Kirk Miller of Olympia; Jim of Olympia; and Jeff of Rainier, Oregon; sister, Mary Mifflin of Seattle; and many much loved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; an older brother, Ernie Linnenkohl; her special friend of 35 years, Francis Seyler; and her favorite dog, Annie.
The family would like to express their deep appreciation to her doctors, nurses and caregivers, Lori, Avis, Julie and Jazzmyn. Also the Aberdeen Police, Fire Department, and Ambulance Crew, for responding many times over the years and for their dedication to caring for others.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 22nd at the Aberdeen First United Methodist Church, followed by a reception at the Aberdeen Museum of History in the Armory Building on 3rd Street .
The family suggests memorial donations in honor of Laura be made to the Linnenkohl Family Scholarship, c/o Grays Harbor College Foundation, 1620 Edward P. Smith Drive, Aberdeen, WA 98520 or to the Timberland Regional Library Foundation, P.O. Box 14178 Tumwater, WA 98511.
A message of condolence or of a memory can be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com

Arrangements are entrusted to Fern Hill Funeral Home, 2208 Roosevelt St., Aberdeen.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Laura Marie Linnenkohl Ellis (Linnenkohl), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.