Lois Ellis

Lois Elayne Peterson Ellis passed away early Tuesday morning, February 11, 2025, in Brighton, Michigan as the result of congestive heart failure. Born in Orleans, Michigan on May 25, 1933 to Ed and Myrle Peterson, she was raised on the family dairy farm with her three younger siblings, twins Jim & Jerry and sister Karen. Lois attended a one room schoolhouse through the eighth grade and graduated from Ionia High School. A highlight of her youth was 4-H through which she raised and showed dairy cows, after which she sold them to raise money for college. Lois always enjoyed athletics and played basketball during high school.

Lois attended Western Michigan College of Education where she met Peter Ellis, whom she married June 14, 1952. She worked at Bell Telephone Company, becoming the first female supervisor in the company. After the couple moved to Clio Michigan, their two daughters, Tracy and Teri, were born. A move to Lansing followed, where Lois finished her teaching degree at Michigan State University. The family moved to Kalamazoo in 1964 where Lois lived for nearly the remainder of her life (60 years). Lois began her elementary education teaching career in the Kalamazoo Public Schools. She was a well-loved and much respected teacher at Arcadia Elementary for decades, also earning her master's degree in Reading from Western Michigan University.

A very active member of the community, Lois volunteered for her church of 60 years, Westwood United Methodist Church, for the Red Cross, and for Meals on Wheels.

Next to her family, Lois loved Western Michigan University and was a devoted Bronco fan, attending nearly all the football, volleyball, men's and women's basketball, and hockey games. Lois and Pete started the Peter & Lois Ellis Scholarship to recognize student athletes who excelled. The Ellis Athletic Academic Advising Center was funded in their names. Lois was named the 1998 Woman of the Year in recognition of her support of collegiate athletics and her service to Western Michigan University. In 2014 she was honored with the WMU Athletics Distinguished Leadership Award.

Lois is survived by her brother, Jerry (Karen) Peterson; daughters, Tracy (Tom) Crawford and Teri (Michael) Sage; six grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Ed and Myrle (Mason) Peterson; husband, Dr. Peter R. Ellis; and siblings, James Peterson and Karen Peterson Coulson.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at Westwood United Methodist Church, 538 Nichols Rd, Kalamazoo with the funeral service following at 11:00 AM. The service will be live streamed on the church website, www.westwood-umc.org, or on the church Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Lois Ellis may be made to the Ellis Athletic Academic Advising Center (mail to WMU Foundation, Heritage Hall, 1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo MI 49009) or to the Westwood UMC Foundation (mail to Westwood United Methodist Church, 538 Nichols Rd, Kalamazoo MI 49006).