Karen Denise Ellis

On December 25th, 2020, Karen Denise Ellis, after 61 years, left all her pain and struggles behind, as her soul joined those of family members who preceded her into heaven. She passed from the loving arms of her husband David, to those of our lord. Karen was a two-time cancer survivor, but was left with a number of other battles to wage. She was a fighter and had the support of her loved ones, but the culmination of the last 5 years of struggle wore her down. The Lord reached down and lifted her up, far away from any remaining fights or struggles. Karen was a Toledo girl, born and raised her. She was one of the 7 children her parents brought into world. She spent her entire life in Toledo, first learning about life and then sharing her love and caring with others. During the time we were allowed have her here, she had two children of her own which she raised, Andrew McGiffin and Claire Bargo. She spend 20 years in the Service Industry until she discovered her passion, helping disabled children learn. She proceeded to work as a Community Partner and then as a Para-Professional with the Toledo Public School System, helping children with both mental and physical disabilities to learn and socialize, with the goal of ultimately be able to interact outside the classroom. She worked at Chase Elementary, located in the Toledo North End for many years before moving to DeVeaux Elementary where she finished her career. Along the way, she earned her Associated Degree at OWENS, which allowed her to get her Para-Professional License. The students she worked with loved her, most referred to her as Miss Karen, with a special few calling her Mommy Karen. Along with being the mother of two, she was a surrogate mother to so many kids from the neighborhoods she lived in, as well as to the friends of her own kids. She build an army of kids who knew her kindness, generosity, and love. They will love and miss her as if she were their own mom. During the year she was recovering from her first bout with cancer, God knew her goodness, yet know the battles she would endure. He decided it was time to give her help. The story she would tell about it was: “..while I was alone and healing, God looked around the world and found a “Shining Knight” for me, someone to be there with me, fighting for me and with me, giving me love, encouragement and support for the rest of my life. He reached down to Texas. He had my Texan move to Ohio so we could find each other…..he brought me My David.” They met in 2001 and soon became inseparable. He was her rock…she was his heart. They knew and recognized their meeting was pre-ordained, not simply chance. They talked for a decade about getting married but didn’t feel that they needed rings to know they belonged to each other, but after 10 years, they decided they would prove they were “one entity” to god and the world. On June 8th, 2011 they were married. When she joined her life with David’s, she also became step-mother to his two daughters. They affectionately called her Mommy2 (Mommy Squared). Karen’s life was about sharing her love and good fortune with others. She loved to travel around the country, seeing new places and meeting new people. She was in awe of the Grand Tetons and the way Fall was painted with so many colors. She liked the snow, just not driving in it. She loved beaches, parks and lakes. She loved the Christmas season so much as it was her time to give. It was her tradition for over a decade to get Christmas Cards, slip in cash, $5, $10, $20, $50 & $100, then go out and hand them out to those who were working on Christmas. She would even stop on the street and hand them out to people who were outside walking or homeless. She never judged people for where their life brought them, she would say, “We are all human and vulnerable and at some point, can used a little kindness.” Along with the gifting she did, she would make a point of supplying “Christmas Cookie Boxes” to many of her Friends and surrogate family. It was always something everyone looked forward too. One of the many things her husband recount’s that he will miss the most was their morning routines. As he would get ready to leave for work, he would put on Chapstick, then walk over and kiss her. After the kiss, she would look up at him, smile and grinningly say, “Thanks for the Chapstick”. They both would say “I love you…be safe” to each other. He also talked about her love for the Michigan Wolverines. She was a die-hard fan and never lost faith in them, no matter how many times Ohio State would beat them in football. With him being an Ohio State Fan, Novembers were of particular enjoyment at the Ellis Household. He laughs, pointing out that the very first “brand new car” he bought Karen, she had to have the yellow one so it would match with all the Michigan things she planned to put on and in it. She would laugh at him when he would have to drive that car, with all the Michigan Tags on it and, her special license plate. He had gotten her a specialized plate when she got the car. He told her it was because he wanted the world to know who she was, to him. Her car plate simply says PRINCSS. Using a phrase just recently used with her husband, those who had taken earlier flight’s to paradise and who were waiting there for her, include her Father, Curtis Henry Bargo; her Mother, Nancy (Baker) Bargo; her In-law’s, Jay & Judy Sirkel; her husband’s natural dad, David Ellis, Sr.; and on a flight just a week before her, her younger sister, Darlene Blair and one of her beloved pets, her black cat Joey. Those here on earth, awaiting their own flight up to be with her are: Her Knight, Her Texan, Her Husband, David Ellis of Toledo Ohio; Her Children, Andrew McGiffin of Toledo Ohio; Claire Bargo of Bangor Maine; Step-Daughters, Misty (Brian) Dillon of Midland Texas and Jennifer Ellis of New Braunfels Texas; Grand-daughter – Lexi, Jules and Sammi Oliver of New Braunfels Texas; Mother-in-Law, Linda Sirkel of Lufkin Texas; Sister-in-Laws – Terri Rangel, Linda Thomas and Sue Dionne; as well as her siblings, Deborah Urbanski, Tim Bargo, Charlotte Buschmann, Donna Doty and Greg Bargo. She leaves a number of nieces and nephews. She also left behind her 16 year old cat Lucy and her most beloved dog, Mackenzie. In the house, the dog was simply called Baby Girl. She’s 9 years old and recognizes that the one everyone called her Mother, has left. She knows she won’t be back, but she still provides great comfort to David and Andy. For her surrogate family and kids, know she loved you deeply as well - Bear, Doug, Roy, Joel, Bonnie, Mary, Melody, Kathy, Tony, Renee, Nancy, Robin, Olivia, Victoria, Pat, Wendy, Tammy, Doris, Laura, Dean, Debbie, Kelly, Jeremy, Dave, Sophie, Rich, Claude, Jan and many others. In lieu of flowers or donations for those who wish to honor her just do this simple act for her. In your own time, step outside on a clear night, look up into the heavens and tell her, from your hearts, how she touched your lives. That would bring her greater peace than flowers or checks, to know her life had meaning and that she touched others. If you speak the words to her out loud….she WILL hear them.