Eleanor Charlotte Maynerick

Ellie will be remembered above all for her abundant heart - her generosity, kindness, compassion, patience and service to others. She moved through life with calming grace. Her every action, gesture and word were filled with humility and an intuitive consideration for others.

Ellie was intelligent, sensitive and beautiful inside and out. She passionately valued family, philanthropy and education and was very well read. She was erudite, spiritual and deep. Her hobbies over the years included piano, dancing, horseback riding, watercolor painting, knitting, floral arrangement, interior design/decor, gardening, landscape design, poetry and writing.

Ellie truly understood the art of living. She was astute at cultivating small pleasures in her daily life and in the lives of others. She kept a stylish, warm home where anyone was welcome. She set a beautiful table for every meal, she hosted fantastic dinner parties and she made birthdays and holidays particularly special. She loved surprises and spontaneity.

As a child, Ellie loved spending time at her dad’s farm with her sisters Rosemary and Martha. In high school, she excelled academically, was a cheerleader, and played clarinet in the band.

At Denison University, Ellie was yearbook editor, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and participated in track and field. She also studied abroad in Mexico. She graduated with a BA in English and later completed a Master’s in English.

Ellie had five children and she was happiest when surrounded by her family. When her children were little, she loved singing, reading, playing games, going on picnics and exploring nature with them. As they grew older, she introduced them to museums, theater, ballet, the symphony, and travel. She took many memorable trips with her family.

Ellie was an English teacher for most of her career. She later owned and operated a Pier 1 Imports for 10 years until she retired.

She paid attention to global issues and was charitable with her time and money. During the 70s, she and her family hosted Vietnamese refugees for about a year. Later in her life she anonymously paid for several high school students to attend university. Ellie volunteered with Hospice as well as various family services organizations and museums. Additionally, she donated to many causes dear to her including educational programs, environmental organizations, an audiology group that provided hearing aids to children, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s foundations, and more.

Though she esteemed the small town mores with which she was raised, she also desired change and adventure. After over 30 years in the Greater Cincinnati area, she and her family moved to Toronto, Ontario for 11 years. In 1982, they moved to Fort Collins, Colorado where she lived for over 28 years. In 2010, Ellie moved to the Palm Springs area of California. In 2018 she moved to Austin, Texas.

Throughout her life she sought the company and perspectives of people from other countries and of different cultures and religions. Through teaching English as a Second Language, she made many international friends. She planned imaginative trips all over the U.S and the world, including attending the Beijing Women's Conference in 1995.

Ellie always enjoyed long philosophical discussions about the meaning of life, and she was always there to lend support for friends who were going through hard times. Anyone who knew Ellie remembers that she loved a good conversation!

Ellie is survived by her children Marshall, Julie, Tom, Monica and Michelle, her grandchildren Alicia, Kazimir, Zarek, Ivyee, Gabriella and Avery, and her great grandchildren Tristan, Ella, Greyson and Arthur.