Ellie Cooper Green

5/16/1934 - 1/5/2024

Ellie Green, age 89, passed away Jan. 5, 2024 in Gresham, Oregon, with loving family by her side. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Joe Mangieri of Portland, Oregon; sister Ann Buffington of Boise, Idaho, and many nieces, nephews, and great friends.

Ellie was born in Long Beach, California, daughter of Thomas and Vesta Green. During her life she lived in: Long Beach, CA (twice); Santa Monica, CA; Pueblo, Colorado; Avondale, Colorado; Kingston, New York; Duluth, Minnesota; Reno, Nevada; Sparks, Nevada; Merritt Island, Florida; Mahopac, New York; Brookfield, Connecticut; in England: in London and subsequently in the towns of Sedbergh, Kendal, Haslingden; in Scotland in the village of Yarrow. From her beloved Yarrow she moved to Fort Bragg, California on the northern California coast where she lived for 19 years; and finally moved to Gresham, Oregon in 2023 to live near her daughter. During all these moves she lived in 49 different homes and considered herself an unintentional nomad. She always loved to travel and go on road trips.

Ellie’s longest and greatest love in life was music. She played oboe in high school and college, and took up guitar as an adult. She also played dulcimer, hammered dulcimer, and psaltery. After raising her daughter, at the age of 48 Ellie moved to England and then Scotland to pursue a career as a professional folk singer and guitarist. Under the name Ellie Ellis, during the 1980s and early ‘90s she performed across Great Britain, the US, Germany, Denmark, Italy and Cyprus with her singing partner, Sara Grey. She wrote and copyrighted two contemporary folk songs. She also sang with well known Scottish ballad singer Elsa LeMaitre of Scotland. Later in life Ellie was an active member of the Senior Singers jazz choir group in Fort Bragg, CA.

Ellie was also active in politics including community organizing in the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements of the 1960s and ‘70s. During her time living overseas, she also had a brief career as a tour guide for small groups of individuals in England and Scotland. She loved to read and write, having written her own memoir and at least one unfinished novel. During her many years in Fort Bragg, CA, she sang, took writing and art classes, and explored hobbies and places. She loved showing off the coastal scenery to friends and visitors in her more mobile days; as she became less mobile she loved keeping up with news, bird watching, feeding deer near her front door, gardening, and doing online jigsaw puzzles.

Her favorite song and life motto was, “Don’t Fence Me In!” Another great quote of hers from her unpublished memoir is, “As I drove away, I felt no fear.” Her family believes this is what she felt as she left this life. No services will be held per Ellie’s request. Donations if desired may be sent to Redwood Coast Seniors of Fort Bragg, CA; or Portland Audobon Society.