Karen Lou Ellingson
On Halloween, Karen Lou Ellingson began her journey to that Big Kitchen in the Sky. Whenever she cooked, she was in heaven, so it only seems fitting that she cook for the angels.
Born in Goldendale in 1951, Karen died at the young age of 58. As a young lady, she was nanny to a fair number of young kids in Goldendale and Salem, Ore., before moving to Bellingham in 1997. She shared her joy of life with all she met in spite of her special physical and emotional limitations. Occasionally profound in her wisdom, she loved the simple things in life: cooking, gardening, watching high school sports and sharing time with her family. Her love for her family was especially deep.
She is survived by her best friend and devoted and loving mother, Marilynn Ellingson of Bellingham; brothers Jerry Ellingson of Seattle and Roger (Linda) Ellingson of Bellingham, and her niece and nephew, Nisha and John Ellingson of Bellingham (who stole her heart and kept it).
Karen spent a lot of time in the hospitals of the Northwest. For all of the scores of hospital staff throughout Oregon and Washington that helped Karen over the decades, thank you. Of course, St. Joe's deserves the biggest thanks for the last 10 years of her struggle. However, no one deserves more thanks than Alderwood Park Convalescent Center, in Bellingham, for it was there that underpaid angels (disguised as nurses, nurses' aides, cooks, janitors, and social workers) assisted Karen in all aspects of her daily living. Karen truly appreciated the hard work and loving kindness of Alderwood staff and loved them for it. Numerous Alderwood residents earned Karen's enduring love, as well.
So Karen has moved to Heaven, where dishes clean themselves and everybody kisses the cook; and where the angels can expect lots of desserts and potato salad, and the best pie crust in the universe.
Rolling out the dough
her floured fingers
bake cookies in heaven
Donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
P.S. Goldendale always had a special place in Karen's heart.
