CONNEAUT LAKE — Betty J. Ellis, 89, of Conneaut Lake, entered into rest Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009, at Rolling Fields Nursing Home in Conneautville.

Born in Pittsburgh on Feb. 16, 1919, she was the daughter of Roy and Blanche Wilson. She was married to Edward Ellis.

Betty was a 1953 graduate of Marshall High in Pittsburgh. She attended Indiana University and studied to become a teacher. After marriage, she later moved to Conneaut Lake in 1948, where she and her husband owned and operated the East Side Grocery Store and then the East Side Bowling Alley. In addition, she was a proud homemaker, raising four daughters. Later in life, she worked for 17 years at Meadville Medical Center as a ward secretary.

She was a devout Christian lady who always looked for ways to help and serve others in family, church and community. Some of her activities at Fifth Street Presbyterian Church included choir, bell choir, teaching Sunday school and Bible studies and serving on various committees, with a special love for missions.

Through the years, she volunteered her time at various nursing homes, the Conneaut Lake Elementary School, as a Girl Scout leader (she earned the Gold Award as a youth) and chaperoned Miss Crawford County at the state level of competition.

Her interests were many. She was a lifelong learner, an avid reader, and loved camping, sewing and crafts, birds, the night sky, playing cards, golfing, bowling and vacationing at the New Jersey shore with her family. But always, her main focus was her faith, family and friends. She was a peacemaker and a prayer warrior for all.

She was a 60-year member of the Fifth Street Presbyterian Church, Station Three of Conneaut Lake, Vernon Central and the Historical Society of Conneaut Lake.

Survivors include four daughters, Marilyn Mielnicki of Pittsburgh, Lisa Groff and her husband, George, of West Chester, Sandra L. Kerlin and her husband, Dix, of Conneaut Lake and Tricia L. Ellis of Conneaut Lake; grandchildren David Mielnicki and John Armour, both of Pittsburgh, Patrick Armour of Kentucky, Jason Strong of New York, Ryan Strong of Oregon and Lindsay Strong of New York; great-grandchildren David Mielnicki, Jarrett, Katie and Michael Mielnicki, Julie and Michael Armour, Jonah, Adam and Ellie Strong and Sophia Strong; two nieces; one nephew; and several great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; two brothers, Roland and Bill Wilson; and one sister, Annabelle Bingham.

Visitation will be at the Dickson Funeral Home in Conneaut Lake on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.

Funeral services will be Wednesday at the Fifth Street Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. with the Rev. William Mills officiating.

Interment will be Thursday at Jefferson Memorial Cemetery in Pittsburgh.

If you so wish, the family suggests memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society in Meadville or to the Shontz Library in Conneaut Lake.