Ellen Boothe

Ellen McMahan Boothe, 83, passed away in Midland, Texas, April 16. 2011, She was born January 17, 1928, at home in Duncan, Oklahoma, delivered by her father, Dr. Alvin Mann McMahan. Her mother was Edna Armold McMahan. After graduating from Duncan High School in 1946, Ellen attended the University of Oklahoma where she graduated with a Bachelor of Elementary Music Education in 1950. While at OU she was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority and Sigma Alpha Iota a music sorority, she also sang in the OU Mixed Chorus and the Women's Choral Club all four years. She married her husband, Bob January 25, 1950, while at the University. After he graduated from OU in January 1952, they lived in several places while Bob was in the Army. Beginning with a move to Midland in 1954, they lived in several cities throughout west Texas and eastern New Mexico, finally returning to Midland in 1982. She taught elementary music in Midland and kindergarten at Child Garden School in Roswell, NM. In Amarillo, she taught at Child Garden School, Head Start and then became a school librarian. In August 1980 Ellen earned her Master of Education (with emphasis on children's literature) from West Texas State University, Canyon, Texas. Ellen returned to Midland in 1982 where she was employed in the children's department of the Midland County Public Library for 6 years. Ellen was a member of First United Methodist Church, Midland and a lifelong Methodist. She was a charter member of the Manor Park Auxiliary and upon completion of the Wallace Building at Manor Park she established the library there with donated books. She continued the supervision of the library until 2008. Her love of God, children, music and books were a large part of her life. She sang in the choirs of all the churches to which she belonged and was a member of the Amarillo Symphony Chorus and the Midland-Odessa Symphony Chorale. She was a long-time member of the Colonel Theunis Dey Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Hazel Hanson Schrecengost. Ellen is survived by Robert L Boothe, her husband of 61 years, son David and wife Carol Duncan, daughter Emily B. Choate and husband Robert, son Paul and wife Mayra, grandchildren Kelly Stewart Matheson and Aaron D. Boothe, and great-grand children Robert Matheson, Liam Matheson and Andrew Matheson. She also leaves Ryn Ryn and Sarah.