Ellen Urie

Ellen Anna (Boyd) Urie, age 91, died peacefully on the beautiful spring evening of May 25th, 2022. A lover of words, she closed her last week with a beautiful, handwritten letter.

Ellen’s passion for storytelling began in childhood. Raised by a Pennsylvania pastor of the Alliance Church she was surrounded by the word of God, encouraged to delve into Biblical literature and commensurate in love for all humankind. Upon her approach to adulthood, Ellen decided to strengthen her relationship to literature at Geneva College where she developed a deep passion for teaching; a career path that would allow her to continue to celebrate the author’s muse and the role word plays in developing creative freedom.  Ellen carried her love for literature throughout her lifetime as a member of numerous book groups sharing her passion with good company.

The next chapter of Ellen’s story began in the beautiful Green Mountain State. Vermont held very fond memories of time spent with family & friends each summer so Ellen took up a satisfying teaching job in Johnson for several years. The Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, although incredibly beautiful, was an unlikely place to find romance!  Through a “friend of a friend”, word got out that a young, single, handsome dairy farmer was looking for a wife. Ellen met Richard Urie and the rest is history.  The two dated briefly before marrying, farming, and having four children. During this time they adopted a delightful baby boy from Vietnam who they named Daniel. He died at age 6 from cancer which left a lasting mark on the entire family. Ellen was a great mother - inspiring freedom of thought, speech, & venture for her children - always in support of doing whatever mattered most. Ellen also instilled in her girls the belief that women could be and do anything.  This open-ended approach to parenting encouraged a healthy sense of autonomy for her girls, a quality they would value for a lifetime.

Once the girls launched from the South Albany farm, Ellen & Richard set out on a new journey. Selling the farm, they left in a RV for a year-long trip across the country, making an abundance of friends and cherished memories.  After their tour Ellen & Richard built a home in Asheville, North Carolina, amongst old friends, where they remained for a decade before deciding to reunite with their children in Livingston, MT. Ellen spent her time in Montana as a dedicated Nana to her grandchildren. She was a member of the Holbrook United Methodist Church, AAUW, the Friends of the Library and a Meals on Wheels driver. She enjoyed biking, walking and hiking, raised a couple naughty puppies, continued to read voraciously and was a generous, spunky neighbor.

When Richard died in 2015 Ellen moved to Aspen Pointe Senior Living in Bozeman where she made numerous friends and enjoyed a nice respite during a poignant part of her life. Over the last year her health declined but her loving light never dimmed. We all hope to make her proud.

She is preceded in death by her parents Montgomery and Cecile Boyd, sister Faith, husband Richard, son Daniel, daughter Kelly and son-in-law Jim. She leaves behind her sister Betty Dolby and her husband Melvin and family; daughter Wendi Urie and her husband Mike Cimonetti, daughter Barb Marshall, and five grandchildren - Abigail and Caroline Elder and Marissa, Jack and Hazen Marshall.

Memorials may be made to The Friends of the Library, Park County Library 228 W, Callender St Livingston, MT 59047. Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.