M. Ellen Frazier May 10, 1914 - July 8, 2009
M. ElIen Frazier, 95, passed away July 8, 2009 at Warm Beach.
Ellen was born to Frank and Martha Bahneman in Walla Walla on May 10, 1914. She was the second of three chi1dren. Her older sister, Frances Jones, of Walla Walla, and younger brother, Freddy Bahneman, also of Walla Walla, both preceded her in death. Ellen attended Walla Walla High School. She married Daris Frazier on May 29, 1937.
She was divorced from Daris in 1950 and went to work in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, taking the first position for which she was qualified. Her chi1dren were then 12 and 13 years old.
She advanced regularly in typist and stenographer positions in the personnel and public relations fields, moving from the shipyard to naval activities at Bangor and Pier 91 in Seattle. She was editor of the U.S. Naval Station's newspaper, "The Bangor Triangle," and she received awards for outstanding performance at both Bangor and Pier 91.
After her children were raised, she moved to California and continued her schooling at Ventura Community College and California State University, Long Beach, receiving an associates degree in art, two bachelor's degrees in sociology (magna cum laude) and psychology, a master's degree sociology, and a teaching certificate.
While attending university she worked as a substitute teacher at various junior and senior high schools in the area, including working with intercity kids in the Compton Unified School District.
This became the platform for a book, "Hey Teach" which she started writing in 1974 and completed just before she entered the nursing home.
Later she taught at a continuation school, and then she taught sociology parttime at EI Camino Community College.
She retired in 1969 and moved back to the Seattle area.
During this time she founded and administered Camano Roving Artists, a completely volunteer group of her students and other artists. During the summer, the group visited selected homes on Camano Island to paint outdoor scenes. This group flourished for six years and inspired other artists to follow in its path.
Ellen also loved gardening and was a master gardener. She spent much of her spare time in her garden, landscaping her property to create a beautiful park-like setting around her home on Midcrest Road.
In 1999, with macular degeneration affecting her eyesight, she ended her teaching career and later abandoned art work altogether. She continued to live alone in her Camano Island home until Jan. 2008, when she moved into the Warm Beach nursing home.
Ellen is survived by her two sons: Richard of Edmonds and Michael of Wrangell, Alaska; four grandchildren: Corey, Kimberly, Kleewein, David and Alan; three great grandchildren: Ethan, Madison and Daelon; niece Helene Bates of Walla Walla; and nephew Dennis Bahneman, of Cathlamet.
Ellen's family has decided to abide by Ellen's request that no service be held in her memory. We are very grateful for all of the friends who visited with and ministered to Ellen at Warm Beach, and to everyone who has encouraged her in life. Please accept out heartfelt thanks.
