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JOHNQUEST ELLEN
ELLEN JOHNQUEST
(nee Ellen Ione Arlene Elwell)
Ellen passed away peacefully March 21 after a severe stroke. She was 84 yrs. old and beloved wife of Merritt Johnquest of Novelty, OH for 59 yrs. She was the dear Mother of Amy of Holyoke, MA; Matt of Cleveland, OH; Gilbert of Los Angeles, CA; Harry of Youngstown, OH; and Grandmother of Astrelle, Connor, and Ryan Johnquest.
Ellen grew up in the Jamestown, NY area. She attended Albright Art School in Buffalo, NY majoring in Art & Design and relocated to Cleveland in 1949 to work for The Halle Bro's Co. advertising dept. and also as a fashion model. A resident of Russell Twp. since 1963, Ellen was active in many art and literary related clubs including the Shaker Book Club, the Cleveland Playhouse Women's Committee, and the Women's Art Club of Cleveland. Her life-long interest in art included studies with William Grauer & Douglas Phillips. She wrote a weekly Arts & Crafts column for the Geauga Times Leader in the 1960's and received the Chagrin Falls Art Association's 1976 special Bicentennial Award for her ceramic sculpture "Mom Lives." She served as a Geauga County Poll worker for decades. In later life she was afflicted with a shower of frogs. Having a special fondness for Jazz, Ellen was hostess for the annual jam sessions, "Jazz at Lake Ellen," for over 30 years.
A celebration of Ellen's life will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers please make contributions in her name to the Geauga Humane Society's Rescue Village, PO Box 116, Novelty, OH 44072.
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