9-02-2023 4:48am

In Memoriam: Elizabeth McGill Ellis, Formerly of Barto, PA

Lesley Misko Editor

[The information below has been provided by Elizabeth's daughter, Lisa Betz.]

Elizabeth McGill Ellis, a resident of Barto, Pennsylvania from 1997-2020, was born in Oakdale, Pennsylvania in August of 1935. She lived on a hilltop farm that is now part of the property belonging to the Pittsburgh Botanic Garden.

Beth grew up enjoying the bounty of home-grown produce, the foundation of her life-long passion for good food. She and her sister, Peggy, attended Oakdale High School. After high school, Beth left the farm to major in speech at Westminster College, in New Wilmington PA, where she met her husband of 62 years, Alan Ellis.

Beth was instrumental in starting and leading drama ministries in three different churches, including Salem Bible Church in Macungie. She passed her love of theater on to her daughters and grandchildren and invested time in mentoring others to lead drama activities—from high school plays to teaching creative dramatics to children with autism.

Beth was best known for her gifts of cooking and hospitality—skills she passed on to her children and grandchildren. She poured her love into cooking for others and enjoyed hosting parties for family and friends. She also hosted missionary families, who looked forward to returning to her home year after year.

Beth’s kitchen was filled with mouth-watering aromas, laughter, and shelves of well-thumbed cookbooks. One of her favorite activities was spending an afternoon in a flour-filled kitchen, teaching many a youngster (and a few oldsters) how to make pie crust, bread, or cookies from scratch.

Beth is survived by her three daughters, Lisa Betz of Morgantown, PA; Jodi Ellis of Dillon, CO; and Megan Frazier of Kingwood, TX. She was blessed with four grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 14 at 11:00 at Hopewell Church in Elverson, PA. Anyone with questions is welcome to contact the church at: (610) 286-6308.