Ellen Smith

It is with deep sadness we announce the death of our dear mother Ellen Smith. Ellen was born in 1934 and passed away peacefully in June 2024 surrounded by family. She was 90 years old. She is survived by her four daughters, Jeanne Burns, Gloria Lake, Diane DeRuiter (Mark), and Donna Bonfield (Mike); six grandchildren, Shauna (Rick), Christy (Zeb), Amanda (Steven), Travis, Jennifer, and Ryan; and nine great-grandchildren. 

She and her husband Lloyd, who preceded her in death, lovingly and selflessly raised their daughters to be loving, caring, strong, independent, successful women She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She always wished she had more time to spend with each of them. 

Ellen began teaching elementary school in the 1960s. She taught for 30 years, substitute taught another eight years and volunteered in the classroom several years beyond that. She was an extraordinary teacher and mentor to both her students and teachers just beginning their careers. 

She loved teaching, reading, word and number puzzles, good conversation, and spending time with friends and family She had a voracious passion for reading and learning and amassed a significant collection of fiction and non-fiction books.

A remembrance will be held at 1:00 pm, August 24, 2024, at Davis Funeral Home, 1401 S Rainbow Blvd., Las Vegas, Nevada.