Shirley Elliot

Following a recent illness, longtime Ephrata resident Shirley Elliot passed away in Tacoma on April 15, 2009, at the age of 75.

She was born Shirley Ann Roloff on Oct. 25, 1933, in a small farmhouse near Lamona, Wash. She graduated from Jenkins Senior High School in Chewelah in 1951, where she was active in the Lutheran youth group Luther League, band and other school activities. She attended and graduated in 1955 from Eastern Washington College of Education in Cheney (now Eastern Washington University), following which she taught grade school both in Moses Lake and Spokane. She met future husband Earl Howe Elliot on a double blind date, although Earl was not her date that first encounter. They were later married on June 21, 1964, in Chewelah, after which they immediately resided in Ephrata.  In subsequent years she helped develop though Big Bend Community College the Kiddie Co-op preschool in Ephrata and was also a teacher in the program, as well as substituting for the Ephrata School District.

Shirley served the Lord faithfully within the Ephrata United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women through numerous committees, outreach, work projects, choir and accompanist, and as a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher.  Her warm caring interest in people was a quiet God-given evangelism. In addition to church activities, she was formerly involved with American Association of University Women (AAUW), the Grant County Historical Society and was a member of the Ephrata Senior Center.  Along with Earl, Shirley was also very involved in the lives of their two children, Bob and Becky.  She served as a Den Leader in Cub Scout Pack 42 for several years and also served as scorekeeper during various Little League baseball and softball games which Earl coached. They never missed a game, concert, ceremony, play or any activity that involved their two children.

 Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of more than 40 years, Earl, in 2005. She is survived by her son Bob Elliot and his wife Denise of Renton, Wash., daughter Becky Colglazier and her husband Shane of Gig Harbor, Wash., grandchildren Isaac and Abigail Elliot and Kristine and Roger Colglazier, sister Delma McLean and her husband Frank of Yakima, Wash., many cousins, nieces and nephews and hundreds of friends. She was a quiet gentle spirit with a servant’s heart and the gift of encouragement. 

All are invited to the inurnment on Friday, April 24, at 12:30 p.m. at the Ephrata Cemetery, E Street and Third Avenue Southwest. Memorial services will follow at 2 p.m. at the Ephrata United Methodist Church, 117 C St. N.W., to remember and celebrate Shirley’s life. If desired, memorials can be made in her name to either the Ephrata United Methodist Church or the Ephrata Senior Center.