Ellen Fuller Blackburn

Ellen Gladys Fuller Blackburn, 94, of Eaton, CO passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family at Life Care Center of Greeley on Friday, July 21, 2023. She was born on April 29, 1929, in Indianapolis, IN, to Charles J. and Irene Gray Fuller. She graduated from Shortridge High School in Indianapolis and Hanover College in Hanover, IN. Ellen met Maurice Blackburn in Indianapolis through mutual friends when he attended classes at Butler University. They were married August 16, 1953, in Indianapolis.

After their wedding, they moved to Lincoln, NE where she adapted quickly to life in a smaller city and weekends in the country on the farm. They had two children, Charlene and Keith.

In 1962, Ellen & Maurice moved to Pueblo, Colorado to pursue her husband’s career. Ellen was a busy housewife and mother until she rejoined the workforce as a bank teller in 1972 at First National Bank of Pueblo. In 1978 they moved to Eaton, CO when Maurice became the Executive Director at Schaefer Enterprises in Greeley. Upon moving to Eaton, Ellen was briefly employed by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Longmont and later as a bank teller for Eaton Bank until she retired in 1997.

Throughout her life, she enjoyed skiing at Monarch and Sunlight Ski Areas, horseback riding with her horse, Princess, in the vast area southwest of Pueblo and spent many weekends camping in the San Isabel Forest. After retirement Ellen and Maurice traveled across the lower 48 states and Canada in their fifth wheel camper, as well as an Alaskan cruise, vacation to Hawaii and several Caribbean cruises. Several summers were spent as campground hosts at Gore Creek Campground, Vail, CO and many winters were spent in Palacios, TX, before they stopped traveling and moved into Benjamin Square in Eaton in 2006.

Ellen enjoyed countless card games with her friends at Benjamin Square. She was an active member of the Eaton United Methodist Church for many years and enjoyed being a member of the Methodist Women’s group. She was an avid Eaton Reds fan, as well as a staunch Nebraska Cornhusker fan. In the latter years she enjoyed a yearly vacation to Steamboat Springs with her family. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to many. Throughout her grandchildren’s middle and high school years and beyond, Ellen adopted their friends as her own grandchildren.

She is survived by her children Charlene (Tim) Swain of Eaton, CO and Keith Blackburn and friend Vicki Miller of Windsor, CO. Her loving and adoring grandchildren: Clint (Mary) Swain of Eaton, CO, Chris (Terin) Swain of Katy, TX, Ryan (Kimra) Swain of Eaton, CO, Brandon (Jessica) Blackburn of Evans, CO, Jennifer Blackburn (Tyler Graham) of Evans, CO. Chris (Kaci) Novak, Greeley, CO, Kaitlyn (Kasey) Trapp, formerly of CO, currently stationed in TX; Kevin Novak, Greeley, CO and Walker Hood of Brighton, CO. Greatgrandchildren: Kati, Alexis, Brenson, Daniel and Hudson, Eaton, CO; Maddox, Paxton, Bexley and Broox, Katy, TX; Damien, Abigail and Quinton, Evans, CO, Charli Jo and Brodi, Greeley, CO; Kyleigh and Declan; Brighton, CO; and Axton, TX. She is also survived by sisters-in-law Karen Cox and Peggy Blackburn-Morales as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles J. and Irene Gray Fuller; her husband, Maurice K. Blackburn; her brother and his wife, Charles G. and Jeanne Fuller; daughter-in-law Susan Lucero Novak; and sister-in-law and her husband Elaine and Bob Glasgow.

A celebration of life will be held Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 11 a.m. at Eaton Christian Fellowship, 303 Maple Avenue, Eaton, CO. Lunch reception will follow at the church. Graveside services will be 11:00 am Monday, July 31, 2023 at Lincoln Memorial Park 6800 S 14th St. Lincoln, NE 68512.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Weld County Humane Society or Fellowship of Christian Athletes or to a charity closest to your heart.