Obituary of Ellen Norris

NORRIS Ellen Sara (nee Campbell) died peacefully at home with her husband Bob at her side. She died on September 12th at the age of 75. She lived with her cancer for a year with great courage, honesty and good humour. She continued to care for her family and friends and she was an inspiration to all who truly knew her. On Vancouver Island she became well known as 'The Heather Lady'. Johnny Appleseed planted apple trees. Ellen planted heathers; thousands of them throughout Vancouver Island and beyond. She inspired thousands of others to plant heathers and taught them how to care for them through: * her teaching at the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific. * more than 60 slide and talk shows at many garden clubs. * being an active member and officer of the North American Heather Society, travelling to places such as California, New York State and Great Britain to participate in conferences. * starting up 2 new NAHS chapters; one in Victoria and the other in the Cowichan Valley. * friends and strangers who turned to her for advice and direction. Ellen was frequently a ground breaker, and often started something while others were still thinking about it. She always gave 100% to whatever she tackled. * at 15 she taught Sunday school to kids not much younger than herself * she became a secretary par excellence. Her filing systems and speed of retrieval were phenomenal. * when the Knoll Retreat Society was formed on the Island she was one of the first to come from Alberta to view the proposed site and for many years she was their registrar, booking and scheduling individual and group retreats through- out the year. Her playing with words was never sharper than during her illness. What a gift that was to us in the midst of our grieving. Here are a few examples: * on being given a mouth swab....'where's the deck?' * on being told you're fine....'of [coarse] I'm fine!' * while watching Bob repair a garden hose....'I don't want an enema with that!' Ellen's husband, four sons, spouses, grandchildren, their spouses, two brothers and their families, and many others have been enriched by her energy and love. Ellen lived just long enough to hold in her arms her first great grandchild....Moira Ellen Margaret Norris. Perhaps she'll be the next heather lady. Who knows. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, September 20th at 11am in Duncan United Church. If you wish to honour Ellen by making a donation, may we suggest the Canadian Cancer Society.