Ellen Faye Lilley was born on March 13, 1946 to Arthur and Helen Lilley. Along with her seven brothers and sisters, Ellen grew up in the suburbs of St. Louis. She graduated from Central Missouri State College, became a teacher, and settled in Savannah. Ellen taught Art and English in the Savannah school system, starting at the middle school in 1969. Later in her career, having completed her Master’s degree in Administration, she worked as an administrator in Savannah’s schools. All told, a passionate, skilled educator for 37 years — Ellen loved this town.
As a young person, Ellen showed early talent for art and music. All her life, she kept developing these remarkable gifts, which expressed themselves in myriad ways: singing in the choir at Savannah United Methodist church (what part did you want sung? Ellen could handle it); watercolors, sculpture, calligraphy, cake-decorating, photography. All this and more came through Ellen, out to others wherever she went: Ellen could make a choir rehearsal on a cold rainy night fun; she could make her classes on a sweltering Thursday afternoon challenging, interesting, important. Somewhere along the line in her career, by others’ observation,
Ellen mastered the mystery of teaching. How many young people in Savannah first learned to love art, drawing, painting in her classes; how many first developed the skill of writing or recognized their appreciation for a good story in Ellen’s English classes? Over her long, rich career as a teacher, Ellen gave countless students a sense of worth, a desire to learn and make something of themselves.
Ellen’s talent, her gifts, her energy, her giving nature, her love of people — all flowed freely from a deep well of love and faith; this love of life itself got expressed not only in service to her near-community — Savannah — but also to her far-community. Ellen’s journey carried her on church missions trips to Mozambique, Africa, working to make sure that the people of the villages got clean, fresh water from a new well.
Ellen grew to love the people of Mozambique. She befriended one family that eventually came to America and settled into Christian ministry in NW Missouri. When she learned they needed transportation, Ellen gave them her car. When all things are considered, Ellen would probably most want to be remembered for her giving nature. For those who knew her, this will not be hard.
All her life, Ellen would try anything. Milk a cow? Sure! Letting a great elephant side up to her in the wild in Mozambique? Not a big deal: unflappable Ellen said: “I’ve never been next to anything that big before!” She appreciated all of God’s creation, not the least her beloved dogs: Angie, Buffy, Hansel and Gretel, Paris, and Belle. Ellen took in foster children; gave them a truly loving, stable home. With a friend in a field of sunflowers? Bring a whole bunch back to class so the students can draw them. She never stopped being creative.
You might also say that Ellen had the gift of friendship.She made friends easily, it seemed, wherever she went. Some of these friendships were life-long: her deep long-lasting friendship with her Beta Omega Sisters was something she always treasured. To put it lightly, she lived an active retirement — teaching GED classes, continuing to serve her church, staying close to her friends and family. Through her entire life, Ellen shared with us all her intellect, knowledge, wisdom, joy, faith and love.
Early in the morning of October 24, after a long illness — her journey here completed — Ellen passed quietly into the presence of her Lord. Surely, Ellen Lilley left her mark: an indelible imprint on all who really knew her. Ellen — her LIFE — pressed in on us, and now she is gone. But her imprint remains.
In a quiet moment, thank God for Ellen. If you knew her, you were blessed. Remember our sister, our aunt, our colleague, our neighbor, our friend. And ponder this: were each of us — were you also — her student?
There will be a Memorial Book, for Miss Lilley, to sign at Heaton-Bowman-Smith Savannah Chapel.
