Mary Ellis

Mary Lewis Ellis passed away peacefully surrounded by family on February 9, 2025, at Valle Verde in Santa Barbara. She was born in 1938 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Barbara Anne Abbot and Gerald Watson Lewis, the youngest of two daughters. Mary attended Ottawa Hills High School, where she excelled academically and met the love of her life, Daniel Ellis.

Mary continued her education at Grand Rapids Junior College before transferring to the University of Michigan, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology. Upon graduation, she worked as a medical technologist at the University of Michigan Hospital.

In 1963, Mary married Daniel Ellis, her devoted husband of 62 years. They moved to Birmingham, Michigan, in 1964, where Mary worked at a local hospital. In 1965, she welcomed her first son, Thomas Frederick, who sadly passed away in infancy. Despite this profound loss, Mary and Dan’s family grew with the adoption of Mark Daniel in 1967 and Barbara Jean in 1968. In 1970, their daughter Elizabeth Anne was born, and Mary dedicated herself to raising her children with love and care.

In 1977, the family relocated to Santa Barbara, California. Mary passed the California licensing exam to practice medical technology and worked in the field of virology at Medical Group Pathology Laboratory. After MGPL closed, she continued her career at Cottage Hospital until her retirement.

During retirement, Mary and Dan embraced their love of travel, exploring destinations around the country and the world, including Australia, New Zealand, and the Mediterranean. They cherished time spent with friends at a guest ranch in Montana, where Mary enjoyed fly-fishing and horseback riding. She also found great joy in visiting her grandchildren on both coasts.

At home, Mary was an avid reader, participating in multiple book groups and treasuring the companionship of her friends. She had a passion for genealogy, dedicating countless hours to researching her family tree and visiting archives in Salt Lake City and Washington, D.C. Mary also delighted in birdwatching with groups from the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum.

Mary is predeceased by her parents, her sister Judy Laham, and her son Thomas. She is survived by her beloved husband, Daniel; her son, Mark; her daughters, Barbara Ellis and Elizabeth Savage (Tige); two nieces, Lynnette Visser and Vicki Free; and her four cherished grandchildren, Melissa Pyle, Jack, Nick, and Molly Savage.

In accordance with Mary’s wishes, there will be no funeral service or celebration of life.