Osage County, Oklahoma, Obituary:  Rozenna K. Ellis

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
The Hominy News - Progress
P.O. Box 38, Hominy, Okla 74035
Transcribed by Sharon Hamilton: sharkay@cccexpress.com
Return to Osage County Archives:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/osage/osage.htm
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The Hominy News-Progress
Vol. 39, No. 2
Wednesday, January 8, 2003
Page 5

Rozenna K. Ellis

Rozenna Katherine Ellis was born in Gooding, Idaho on January 21, 1919 to 
Gladys Arvilla Saxe Rookstool and John Philo Rookstool.  She departed this 
life December 23, 2002 in Overland Park, KS at the age of 83 years.  
Rozenna was named for her maternal grandmother Rozenna Rebecca Dawson Saxe.

She was the wife of Robert Lee Ellis who passed away June 17, 1998.  They 
had been married for more than 62 years.  She was the mother of three 
children:  Roberta Ann Ellis Dewitt of Overland Park, KS; Charles Allen 
Ellis and John Edward Ellis, of Tulsa; plus nine grandchildren:  Mark 
Dewitt of Granbury, TX; Kara Barbieri and Terri Dunmire of Olathe, DS; 
Steven Jay Dewitt of Pacific Grove, CA; Brent Ellis of Minneapolis, 
Minnesota; Katherine Snead, Curt Ellis, Stephanie Ellis and Kimberly 
Ellis, of Tulsa; plus seven beloved great grandchildren.

She is survived by a sister, Gladys Elizabeth Rookstool Ewing of Tulsa and 
John (Jack) E. Rookstool of Three Rivers, CA.  She was preceded in death 
by one brother, Lloyd Pitts and two sisters, Margaret Shafner and Hazel 
Miller.

After completing High School in Hominy in May, 1936 she married Robert 
(Bob) Ellis on July 17, 1936.  Bob worked in the oil fields.  His job took 
him to Rodessa, Louisiana where the couple lived in a field camp in the 
Rodessa Field.  While they lived in Rodessa, Roberta and Charles were 
born.  Later Rozenna and Bob moved to a new field camp in the Big Bend 
Field near Ponca City in Western Osage County, OK.

The family moved back to Hominy in 1944.  Then John was born, in Blackwell, 
where an older sister, Margaret Shafner lived.  

Rozenna was a quiet, private person devoted to her family, her church and 
her friends.  She had concern for everyone who had a need and never quit 
giving to others…right up to the very end of her life.  In her last years 
she continued to encourage others.  She would tell people around her that 
she loved them or they were doing a great job or some other uplifting 
comment.

When she couldn't speak she would pat a hand to arm and let the person 
caring for her know she appreciated their help.

The church was a big part of her life.  She supported it with her time, 
her skills and her gifts.  She supported the ministers.  She sang in the 
choir, prepared food, decorated the church for the Christmas season, 
served on various committees and was active with the United Methodist 
Women.  She raised her children in the First Methodist Church in Hominy.

Rozenna volunteered many hours in the Hominy Public Schools taking 
students on out of town band, choral or speech competitions.  She was one 
of several parents who helped organize, create, and supervise "Teen Town" 
at the High School during the middle 1950's.

She was an accomplished seamstress and both she and Bob loved to garden.  
When her children were young she was a volunteer leader in Girl Scouts and 
Cub Scouts.

Rozenna was a loving mother and wife, devoted to her family and leading 
them by word and by example.  If she could speak today she would, in her 
quiet way, encourage all of her children, grandchildren and great-
grandchildren to live their lives in the shelter of the church knowing 
that God's Grace is always available to them and will always provide the 
way for them.

Services for Rozenna K. Ellis were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, 
December 28, 2002 at the United Methodist Church in Hominy.  Rev. William 
Forrest Officiated the services.  Roberta Forrest accompanied 
congregational hymns.  Casket Bearers were Brent Ellis, Curt Ellis, Mark 
DeWitt, Gerald Lee, Dick Childers, and Jay DeWitt.  Service arrangements 
were under the direction of Powell Funeral Home.
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