Ellen M. Phillips, 93, died peacefully on May 25, 2023, in Morristown, New Jersey.
She was the loving mother of four sons, Lee (Ann), Grant (Maria), Scott (Crystal), and Stuart; the grandmother of eight, Zach, Perry, Ben, Emma, Lucy, Ethan, Louisa, Josh; and the great-grandmother of Violet.
Born in Cleveland to Robert and Elinor Morris, she was the younger sister of the late William B. Morris. She grew up and spent the better part of her life there, with early formative experiences at Camp Walden in Maine, at LaSalle Junior College, and in Rome, where her father worked for the post-war Marshall Plan.
In 1950, she married Richard L. Phillips, who died in 2016, and devoted herself to raising her family of boys in Shaker Heights, Ohio. After a late divorce, she relocated to Montclair to be nearer her beloved grandchildren. For many of her later years, she worked as a dedicated preschool teacher in that town.
By common agreement, Ms. Phillips was the least pretentious, most nonjudgmental person imaginable, with nary a harsh word for anyone; and her playful and sunny spirit – her light touch – will be sorely missed by all those who knew and loved her.
A private memorial will be held at a later date.