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Ellen Dell Carrithers
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August 5, 1926 ~ December 23, 2013 |
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January 2, 2014 |
 Ellen
Dell Carrithers was born on August 5, 1926, in
Syracuse, Kansas, to Earl Carrithers and Ina
Butts Carrithers. Ellen passed away surrounded
by family December 23, at the Hospice
House in Coeur d’Alene of natural causes.
To honor Ellen, a potluck Celebration of Life
will be held at noon Sunday, May 25,
Memorial Day weekend, at the home of Morris and
Carol Prosser, E4875 St. Anthony’s Lane, Post
Falls.
Ellen loved get togethers and spent many
wonderful times at the Prosser home. Everyone is
welcome to come and share your stories of Ellen.
At a young age she moved from Kansas to North
Idaho with her parents and four siblings. During
her high school years, her family lived in
Bremerton, Washington, where her father worked
in the shipyards during World War II.
She finished high school there and began her
working career as a phone operator in Bremerton.
From there she worked at the naval base at
Farragut Park, Idaho, also as an operator. She
then went to work for GTE (General Telephone
Company) as an operator and then on to office
manager in Bonners Ferry. She transferred to
Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene, and finally retired
from GTE after 40 years.
Most people did not know that she was one of the
original operators who would say “At the tone
the time will be.”
Ellen saw many changes in telephone service and
retired just at the time that cell phones were
coming into existence.
Family was very important to Ellen. She took her
nieces and nephews on trips to visit other
family in Washington and Oregon, train trips to
Troy, Montana, or the bison range in Polson,
Montana, whenever she had a vacation from work.
Holidays were another important time in Ellen’s
life. We will all miss the holiday, anniversary
and birthday cards she sent.
Ellen spent many hours playing cards and board
games with the children, patiently helping the
younger ones so that they could play with the
big kids too. She enjoyed reunions, weddings,
graduations and other family events, often
traveling so that she could attend.
Ellen was a long time member of the Phythian
Sisters and remained in contact with other
members long after she moved away. She enjoyed
gardening, music, reading, craft projects,
collecting ornaments and having lunch with
friends.
Ellen is survived by her sisters, Janice Eby,
Bonners Ferry and Esther Woodward of Post Falls,
as well as many cousins and nieces and nephews.
Ellen is preceded in death by her parents,
brother Frank Carrithers and sister Olive
Mulvaney.
Ellen will be missed greatly by family and all
her many friends.
Memorial contributions can be made to the
charity of your choice. |
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