Ellen Severy was born in Zanesville, Ohio on October 27, 1917 and passed away 18 days short of 100 on October 9, 2017. Her parents were Harry and Ida Montgomery Burch. She was the valedictorian of her Highland Park High School graduating class in the Detroit area. She then attended Albion and Michigan State - finishing her undergraduate degree as salutatorian before earning a master's degree in education. While in school she enjoyed modeling for the J.L. Hudson Company. It was across the quad at Albion that Jim Severy first saw Ellen and told his friend she was the one he would marry. They did just that in 1940. It was also at Albion that she began a lifelong relationship with Alpha Chi Omega Sorority.
Ellen loved to travel and visited more than 150 countries in her 100. She and Jim enjoyed freighter and cargo ships, the last of these in 1990, the same year as their 50th anniversary. After Jim died in 1997, she continued to new ports, including her last trip to Vietnam at the age of 97. She and Jim moved from Birmingham, Michigan to Boulder in 1975, while...[more]
, while also having apartments in St Augustine and Gainesville, Florida for many years. View Full Online Obituary and Tributes
Even while on the move Ellen kept up with other passions.S he loved to write, she loved to read, she loved to sing, and she loved a good argument. This led to membership in groups devoted to these activities throughout her life. She put her teaching skill to use along the way, teaching all kinds of things from high school English to sewing and writing.
This world traveler infected her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren with the need to be on the move. She is survived by her daughter Janelle Hink and son-in-law Rick Hink. Their children are Eric Hink and Amber Hunter. Eric and wife Raquel provided Ellen with great grandchildren Lucy, Sydney (Ellen) and Levi. Amber and husband Dylan have two boys Ryan and Adam. Son Larry Severy, married to the late Linda Anstensen Severy, has two daughters, Beth and Lisa (Ellen). Beth is married to John Severy-Hoven, and had two more great grandchildren for Ellen. Their names are Kira and Zachary Severy-Hoven.
There will be private memorial at Green Mountain Cemetery on Friday, October 27th, her 100 birthday.
To read the full obituary, please click here: http://www.darrellhowemortuary.com/obituaries/2017-10/janice-ellen-severy