Florence Pettyjohn Ellis

Florence Pettyjohn Ellis, age 83, died peacefully on Sunday, August 2, 2015 at Kaseman Presbyterian Hospital. She was born on November 24, 1931 in Three Springs, a small town near Norton, Virginia, where she lived until her family moved to Portsmouth, Virginia in her senior year of high school. She graduated from James Madison University, where she was an active member of Alpha Sigma Alpha, and began her career as Librarian and English teacher at the Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach in 1954. She married Henry Ellis in 1957 and they moved to Albuquerque where Henry joined the Psychology department at the University of New Mexico. They had three children, Joan Ellis who is married to David Arnold, who resides in Albuquerque; Diane Riggs who is married to Jeffrey Riggs and they reside in Cherry Hills Village, CO, and John Ellis who is married to Julie Ellis, and they reside in Albuquerque. In addition, they have seven grandchildren: Kelly Hayes, Kara Arnold, Scott Arnold, Michael Mager, Anna Mager, Emily Ellis and Matthew Ellis. Florence was a homemaker for the first sixteen years of her marriage; then she embarked on a career in real estate working with four firms. She first worked for Hooten & Stahl, and the Jack Stahl Company. She was a manager for both firms. Then she moved to the H. Parnegg Company and finally to Coldwell-Banker. She received many awards for her work and enjoyed the world of business for thirty years. She and Henry moved to Four Hills Village in 1997 where she enjoyed many activities in the community. An avid bridge player, she played in a variety of groups. She was also a member of two book clubs, one of which she founded. She also enjoyed travel and gourmet clubs. Florence was an active member of Four Hills Neighbors. She enjoyed many friends in Albuquerque and was very active in the community. Florence became a member of Chapter V of the P.E.O. Sisterhood in 2002. To her P.E.O. sisters, she has been a loving, dynamic friend and an example of all it means to be a member of this philanthropic organization. Florence especially enjoyed travel, and she and Henry visited 80 countries in Europe, Asia, South America, Australia and North Africa. Most exciting to her were trips to ancient lands such as Egypt, Greece and Turkey. In later years, she enjoyed cruising, which allowed her to see many exotic regions of the world. Most of all Florence loved her family, friends and especially loved the delights and antics of her grandchildren. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved a good story. She was a loving, kind and supportive person whom everyone loved. A service will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2015, 11:00 a.m. at FRENCH-Lomas, with a reception to follow at the Canyon Club, formerly the Four Hills Country Club. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the P.E.O. Program for Continuing Education, c/o P.O. BOX 90116 Albuquerque, NM 87199.