Shirley Louise Ellis

Shirley Louise Ellis

Shirley Louise Ellis, 90, passed away peacefully at home with her loving family around her Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Born Nov. 11, 1935, in Janesville, WI, Shirley was the daughter of Jason and Irene (Craig) Miller.

Shirley graduated from Edgerton High School in 1953. She married Richard Ellis Oct. 30, 1954, and the newlyweds lived in the Brooklyn and Evansville area, farmed in Edgerton for several years, and in 1968, moved their family to Cambridge where they lived for 27 years. They had purchased hunting land with a cabin near Black River Falls in 1967, and in 1991, they made it their year-round home.

Her great passions in life were reading, garage sales, cooking delicious food for her family and everyone who was at her table and spending time with her children and grandchildren. Family and friends were everything to Shirley. She made her children’s friends feel like her own, and no one left her home hungry.

Shirley is survived by her husband of 71 years, Richard; three sons, Dennis (Eileen May), Cambridge, WI, Darryl (Lori Van Hulle), Middle Inlet, WI, and Dean, Black River Falls; a daughter, Sharon (Lee) Farrar, Cambridge, WI; six grandchildren, Kelsey Ellis (Austin Ragotzkie), Hannah Undestad (BJ Meitner), Justin (Erin) Farrar, Savannah (Eric) Sigur, Lainey Chavez (Steve Hylden) and Erin (Vince) Musa; as well as five great-grandchildren, Pierce Ramsey, Violet Farrar, Kinsley Farrar, Louie Sigur and Valerie Hylden. Shirley is further survived by her sister, Becky Geske, Janesville, WI; brother Leonard Miller, Canton, IL; sister-in-law, Fern Miller, Redding, CA; sister-in-law Marian Ellis, McFarland, WI; and many nieces and nephews.

Shirley was one of 11 children and was preceded in death by her parents and five sisters, Gladys Beauprey, Alice Jacobson, Roberta Kersten, Melba Updike and Jean Wells; as well as three brothers, Don, Sheldon and Francis Miller; and several beloved nieces and nephews.

Per Shirley’s request, there will be no funeral services, but a private celebration of life is planned for a later date.