Ellen Dean Eastham Hitt graduated to heaven in Memory Care at Miramont Pointe in Clackamas, Oregon on May 28, 2017 surrounded by her three daughters and two sons-in-law. Ellen was born September 12, 1931 in Kerens, Texas to J.J. and Evie Eastham. She spent her early years in Corsicana, Texas, later moving to Big Spring where her father worked for the railroad. Ellen graduated from Big Spring High School. She met her husband, Harold Parks Hitt, while attending Howard County College in Big Spring, Texas. They were married for 53 years before Harold preceded her in death in 2005.
The newlywed couple transferred to Howard Payne College in Brownwood, Texas where Ellen received her Bachelor's Degree in English. Two daughters were born while attending seminary in Fort Worth. A third daughter was born while pastoring their first church in Lindale, Texas. A fourth foster daughter later joined the family.
Ellen served alongside Harold in pastorates in Lindale, Texas; Baker City, Oregon; Bothell, Washington, and finally in Portland, Oregon where he worked for the NW Baptist Convention. Ellen taught elementary school for thirty-three years while raising three daughters who also became teachers. Thirty-one of those years were at Sunnyside Elementary School in the North Clackamas School District. Her other full-time job was serving faithfully in the church as a pastor's wife and later as a lay person teaching all ages of Bible study, leading worship, directing adult and youth choirs, directing youth ministry, and serving in Woman's Missionary Union.
Ellen's greatest achievements were her grandchildren. Other than cheering on the Portland Trailblazers with Harold, cheering on her grandchildren in all of their athletic adventures was her favorite pastime. She loved to cook big Sunday dinners for the entire family.
After suffering a broken neck in 2010, Ellen moved into assisted living. She lived her last 4 1/2 years in a memory care facility, continuing to touch the lives of her caregivers and all who knew her.
Ellen is survived by a brother, James Douglas Eastham of Jefferson, Texas; Three daughters - Dee Ann Dower of Clackamas, Oregon, Kay Taylor of Clackamas, Oregon, and Joy Bradley of Vancouver Washington - and foster daughter Koi Saeteurn Nycz, of Umatilla, Oregon. Her legacy continues with nine grandchildren, four foster grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, with one more on the way.
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