Obituary of Laurel Elizabeth Ellison

July 7, 1939 – Ogden, Utah, USA

February 12, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

 

Laurel Ellison of Calgary, AB, passed away on Monday, February 12, 2024, at the age of 84 years.

 

Laurel was born in Ogden, Utah, USA, on July 7, 1939, the second daughter of Laurel Ellison (née Elver) and Lincoln Ellison. She was the second oldest and had three sisters; Liane, Linda, and Linnea (their father would joke, “It’s an L of a family!”).

 

Laurel had a creative and nature-filled childhood, spending summers at the United States Forest Service Alpine Research Station, where their father worked for the US Forest Service as an early environmental scientist. He was a pioneer in his field and is now renowned for his studies on range management, botany, and ecology. After high school, Laurel attended Grinnell College in Iowa where she completed a degree in English literature. Laurel’s father, Lincoln, died during this time in an avalanche while skiing. After the family recovered from this tragedy, Laurel’s mother married her childhood friend, Monroe Everett (beloved “Grandpa Roe”), and moved to his orange/avocado/walnut ranch, “Tierra Rejada”, in Moorpark, California.

 

At Grinnell, Laurel met her husband, John Stocking, also an English major, and the editor of the Grinnell student newspaper. She was the first of her sisters to marry. Laurel and John moved to Stinson Beach, CA, so they would be close to San Francisco, where John served in the U.S. Coast Guard. During this time, Laurel gave birth to her first daughter, Linden Ruey Stocking, in 1963. They then emigrated to Vancouver, BC, Canada, where John obtained his master’s in art history at the University of British Columbia, and where Laurel’s second daughter, Sophie Linnea Stocking, was born in 1966.

 

The family then moved to Missoula, MT, where John began his career teaching art history at the University of Montana.  Laurel focused on raising her daughters and making a cozy, creative home on a tight budget. Walls might be painted apple green, or mustard yellow, or perhaps a ceiling of periwinkle blue. Although a fastidious person, Laurel prioritized her daughters’ creativity, facilitating many artistic projects, from papier-mâché, to painting and ceramics, to baking and macramé. She also made sure her girls had access to pets, nature, excellent literature, and wonderful home cooking. Laurel was very concerned with the political and environmental issues of the 60s, participating in protests against the local paper mill, and also read voraciously.

 

In 1970, the family settled permanently in Calgary, AB, where John became a tenured professor of Art History at the University of Calgary. Laurel herself pursued a second degree in education, and once both the daughters were in school, she started teaching full-time. A dedicated and creative teacher, she taught grades one through six, then specialized in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) during the Vietnam boat crisis, later transitioning to adult ESL. Laurel particularly enjoyed teaching ESL due to her fascination with other cultures and was much loved by her students. She also spent several years working at the University of Calgary library.

 

John and Laurel were together for thirty years, and although it was a complicated and sometimes difficult marriage, it was not without mutual love and shared interests. They particularly enjoyed their off-the-grid summer cabin in Kaslo, BC, and had fun travelling together. They went on several trips, including two to India, England, France, and St. Kitts in the West Indies.

 

Around 1995 they divorced, and Laurel embarked on an adventurous chapter of her life, moving to the spiritual community of Ananda in California, then to Ananda Seattle. In Seattle, she returned to teaching adult ESL at Edmonds Community College, which she greatly enjoyed, and was again loved by her students. The pinnacle of her Ananda experience however was moving to Ananda Italy, in the small mountain town of Assisi. There she reveled in living in an old stone cottage, working in the community kitchen, tramping through the countryside, and absorbing all things Italian. When Sophie gave birth to Laurel’s third grandchild in 2006 however, Laurel decided it was time to head back to Canada. She bought a bungalow in Calgary and divided her time between her grandchildren, hiking (especially in nearby Nose Hill Park), volunteering with the Humane Society, and enjoying her meditation group and other friends. She was able to go on two return trips to Italy, and also experienced a wonderful trip to India with her daughter Ruey. She adopted and adored a rescue dog, Maggie, and a cat, Precious.

 

Sadly, around 2010, it became evident that Laurel was in the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s Disease. She sold her bungalow and moved to the Boardwalk Independent Living Community near the university. The progression of her disease was often stressful and frightening to her, as well as terribly limiting to her freedom. Again and again, however, her huge curiosity and zest for life won out. When she could no longer drive, she became quite good at navigating the C-train, as well as enjoying cultural outings with Sophie and the grandkids, supplemented by a number of driving services and home care. Because of her vivacious character, she was a favourite of her service providers. She dubbed herself “The Crazy Cat Lady of Boardwalk Retirement Community” and became somewhat famous for her adventures and misadventures. We will always be grateful for the friends and staff, especially Greg the manager, who supported her through this time. When a higher level of care was needed, Laurel moved with her cat, Precious, to Amica at Aspen Woods, where she lived for three years. The staff at Amica were also patient and amazing. Laurel especially loved walking in the nearby Aspen groves, which reminded her of childhood hikes in Utah.

 

Laurel’s disease, which had progressed very slowly over twelve years, took a sudden decline during the Covid lockdown, at which point a secure dementia unit was required. Thankfully, her cat Precious could be taken from her at this point without any distress on her part, and Laurel moved to St. Marguerite Manor’s third-floor dementia wing. Here she was cared for with the greatest kindness by the dedicated staff, and it is a testament to her sweet nature that she was a staff favourite, with one nursing aide saying, “Laurel is everyone’s darling”. Even at the final stages of life, when almost nonverbal, she managed to convey enjoyment, humour, and gratitude to those who cared for her. She passed very gently in her sleep on the evening of Monday, February 12, 2024.

 

Laurel is survived by her daughter Ruey Stocking, and son-in-law Adriano Vatta, residing in Richland, MI; her daughter Sophie Stocking, and her son-in-law Paul Reinhardt, and her three grandchildren Avery, Nathan, and Josephine Reinhardt, all residing in Calgary, AB.

 

Laurel is also survived by her sister Liane Norman of Pittsburgh, PA; her sister Linda Jessup, and brother-in-law David Jessup of Silver Spring, MD; and her sister Linnea Brecunier, and brother-in-law Rick Brecunier of Moorpark, CA.

 

Laurel was predeceased by her father Lincoln Ellison, her mother Laurel Elver Ellison Everett, her adopted father Monroe Everett, her husband John Robert Stocking, and her brother-in-law Bob Norman.

 

Laurel requested that her body be cremated, and her ashes will be scattered in an alpine meadow, as per her wishes.

 

An Astral Ascension Ceremony will be led by the Ananda, Washington community.  If you wish to join the ceremony, the details are as follows:

 

Topic: Laurel Ellison Astral Ascension

 

Time: March 1, 2024, 09:30 AM Pacific Time

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84954048409?pwd=SspaqlmRkX9BtQwb2ylCD8KkjV5CyI.1.

Meeting ID: 849 5404 8409

Passcode: 569529

 

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to The Fur-Bearers Environmental Program, suite 701, 718, 333 Brooksbank Ave, North Vancouver, BC V7J 3V8, https://thefurbearers.com/.

 

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Laurel’s family here.

 

In living memory of Laurel Ellison, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-276-2296.