Ellen Harriet Easterbrook

1936 - 2025

Ellen Harriet Easterbrook

February 11, 1936 - August 23, 2025

Bellingham, Washington - Ellen Harriet Easterbrook, beloved wife, teacher, artist, and adventurer, passed away peacefully at her home on August 23, 2025, at the age of 89.

Born on February 11, 1936, in Jackson, Minnesota, Ellen was the daughter of Roy Taylor Moses and Dorothea Moses. She spent her childhood in Edmonds, Washington, and graduated from Edmonds High School. She later attended the University of Washington, where she met the love of her life, geologist Donald Easterbrook. Ellen completed her degree at Western Washington University.

A dedicated educator, Ellen spent 25 years teaching at Happy Valley Elementary School. She was admired not only for her excellence in the classroom but also for her deep compassion and lasting impact on her students.

Ellen lived life with joy and curiosity. She was an avid tennis player, skier, and hiker, and spent decades exploring the world alongside her husband Don. Together, they traveled from the peaks of the Alps to the trails of New Zealand, sharing a deep love of nature and adventure.

Her artistic spirit found expression in her painting. A talented artist, Ellen's works--often inspired by landscapes she explored--grace the walls of her home and the homes of those she loved. She especially loved capturing the beauty of the North Cascades and the peaceful scenes of Sun Valley, Idaho.

Ellen was also a vibrant and engaged member of her community. She participated in several book clubs and knitting circles and was especially proud to have founded a women-only investment club--a space for learning, empowerment, and lasting friendship. She was a dear and loyal friend to many, always generous with her time, wisdom, and care. Her friendships were a treasured part of her life and a reflection of her kind and thoughtful spirit.

Ellen is survived by her husband, Don Easterbrook.

She was a cherished member of a large and loving extended family. She was preceded in death by her brother Kenneth Roy Taylor Moses; and niece Wendy Ellen Gould. She is survived by her nieces and nephews, including niece Deanna R. Schneider, with children Emily "Nikki" Wesel of Blaine (son Dylan), and the late Lance Kenneth Schneider, niece Wendy Ellen Gould (deceased), mother of Taj A. Gould (children Riley, the late Jayda, and Reagan), Zachary Roy Taylor Gould (children Gracie and Jake), and Kacie Ann Gould (son Eliezer).

Her maternal half-sisters from Dorothea's first marriage: half-sister LaVonne Strube of Rapid City, South Dakota, and her daughters Mary (sons Chris and Quinn) and Monette (children Michael and Lisa); half-sister Maxine "Mickey" Youmans of Fremont, Nebraska, and her sons Steve and David.

Her paternal half-siblings from Roy Moses' first marriage: niece Eunice Berryman of Tulsa, Oklahoma (children Pat and Jim); niece Dorothea Matuska of Edmonds (children John, Marlene, Mark, Ann, Jean, and Alice); nephew Morris Moses (daughter Theresa); nephew Delbert Moses (three children).

Ellen's legacy lives on in the lives she touched as a teacher, the beauty she created as an artist, the strength of the communities she built, and the love she gave so freely. She will be remembered for her warmth, her adventurous spirit, and her deep appreciation for nature, friendship, and lifelong learning.