Ellen Thompson Johnson

"Because I could not stop for death, He kindly stopped for me." ELLEN THOMPSON JOHNSON of Houston, Texas Ellen Thompson Johnson died on November 11, 2007 of metastatic breast cancer. A Memorial Service and Celebration of her life will be held on November 17, 2007 at 2:00 PM at Ashford United Methodist Church. Visitation will take place on Friday, November 16, 2007, between the hours of 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM at Ashford United Methodist Church. Ms. Johnson was born August 27, 1957 in Gallipolis, Ohio, and grew up in Buckhannon, W.Va. She graduated from Buckhannon-Upshur High School in 1975. She graduated cum laude from W.Va. Wesleyan College with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration and a minor in Art in 1983. She was employed by Shell Chemical Company in Belpre, Ohio for 7 years. In 1986, Ms. Johnson moved to Houston, Texas where she married David LeRoy Johnson, the love of her life and best friend. They were both of the opinion that God puts people together and they felt chosen for each other. Shortly after they married, she and her husband started a media production company together and enjoyed one another's continual companionship. When other couples asked how they managed to work together, Ellen always replied, "I can't imagine a marriage where you couldn't work together!" Later, Ellen formed her own writing company and won numerous awards for her scripts and articles. Ellen was an outspoken advocate of women's health issues. In 1996, she formed the Endometriosis Association Houston Support Group and served as its volunteer leader for five years. From 2002-2004, she edited an online newsletter for endometriosis patients and leaders called The Coping Zone (endozone.com). Her health-related articles, stories, and interviews have been published on such Internet sites as ObGyn.net, about.com, ivf.com, endowisdom.com, and the website for the International Endometriosis Association. Working with leading endometriosis and reproductive specialists, Ellen wrote patient information articles on subjects such as thrombophilia, recurrent pregnancy loss, blastocyst transfer, and determination of ovarian reserve that have been published, and translated for women's groups around the world. She also developed the content for FirstVisitIVF.com, a comprehensive tutorial for infertility patients, and authored patient-oriented articles published in the books Unveiling Endometriosis and Living Well With Endometriosis. When she wasn't writing for clients, Ellen wrote simply for the joy of writing and communicating ideas. She was also active in the community, having donated writing and production services to charitable organizations such as the ESCAPE Center, St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Houston, and the Emergency Aid Coalition in Houston. Ellen and her husband are members of Ashford United Methodist Church. She loved life, God, her husband, her devoted family, her incredible friends, the great State of Texas, buckwheat pancakes with real maple syrup, warm socks, being a girly girl, experimental cooking, good movies, and a well-written sentence. Throughout her journey with cancer, her faith rarely wavered. She remained steadfast in the belief that while this was not the path she would have chosen, it was certainly the path she was intended to travel. Ms. Johnson is survived by her husband of 18 years, David LeRoy Johnson of Houston, Texas, her father, Alton L. Thompson, retired from the USPFO and W.Va. National Guard, Port Richey, FL and his wife Joyce Kubin Thompson; brothers, Michael L. Thompson, Morgantown, WV; and Jeffrey Z. Thompson and wife Pamela, Ft. Myers, FL; two nieces, Kelsey L. Thompson and Haley M. Thompson, both of Ft. Myers, FL; two nephews and their wives, Bradley M. Thompson and wife Amanda and Slim Gillian and wife Laura, all of Ft. Myers, FL; mother-in-law Sue M. Johnson, Oklahoma City, OK; father-in-law Roy D. Johnson and wife Linda, Cleveland, GA; uncle and aunt, William L. and Shelba J. Wood, Gahanna, Ohio; aunts Helen T. Wood, Haws Run, NC; Eva Lanier, Winnabow, NC; Evelyn Rawls, Alexandria, VA; and uncles Jack Dunn of Pensacola, FL; and Donald J. Padgett of Jacksonville, NC. Also survived by an abundance of vivacious first, second, and third cousins throughout the country and countless friends throughout the world. Ms. Johnson was preceded in death by her other best friend and dear mother, Anna Laura Thompson of Port Richey, FL. Those wishing to send flowers may send them to Legacy Memorial Funeral Home in Houston. Those wishing to make a charitable gift in Ellen's honor may make donations to Breast Cancer Action at 1-877-2STOPBC; to CanCare of Houston, www.cancare.org at 1-888-461-0028; or to Houston Hospice at 800-824-2911. Additional information about the visitation and memorial service can be found at www.legacymemorial.net.