Ellen Gloria Gotchy passed away on February 22, 2024, at Aegis Living Kent. She was 95. Born in Tacoma, Washington, Ellen lived in Milton, Fife, Sumner, and Federal Way. Her parents immigrated to the U.S. from Sweden. Born on March 15, 1928, she was the fourth of five children and the only child to survive infancy.

Ellen graduated from Fife High School in 1946, where she met and later married her husband Joe, after he returned from serving in the U.S. Marine Corps during WW II. While in high school, Ellen volunteered to monitor the anti-aircraft searchlight in Milton and worked as a hat check girl at the Century Ballroom in Fife. Following graduation, Ellen worked in The Tacoma News Tribune's advertising department.

Ellen was a devoted wife and mother. While Joe became an operating engineer, Ellen became the consummate homemaker, mother, and neighbor. Her husband never left for work without a hot breakfast, full lunch pail, a kiss, and "I love you." When Joe was away from home building bridges over the Yukon and Columbia Rivers, Ellen took care of everything on the home front. She was a tireless worker and took great pride in her home, inside and out.

Ellen loved her family, and friends, antiquing, refinishing old furniture, and gardening. She enjoyed boating in Puget Sound and vacationing in their fifth-wheel trailer with Joe. She served multiple terms on the Twin Cedars Mobile Home Park board of directors.

Ellen was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Forrest Gotchy, and parents, Joseph and Jennie Kristina Hallman. Surviving are her son, Joseph R. Gotchy, and daughter-in-law, Margaret of Auburn; son, Thomas E. Gotchy, and daughter-in-law, Celest of Bellingham; granddaughter Lauren Wegener of Seattle; and grandson, Kyle Gotchy and wife, Sarah Joye, and two great-granddaughters of Sacramento.

Ellen's family would like to express its gratitude to Aegis Living Kent, UW Medicine-Valley Medical Center, and Heart'n Soul Hospice for their professional and compassionate care.

At her request, there will be no memorial service.