Ellen Syrie Meyers

Ellen Meyers, 96, passed away on the 6th of May, 2026 at Brookdale Lakeshore in Waco, Texas. Ellen was born February 22, 1930 in Sharon, Oklahoma to Nick and Abbie Syrie. Being born during the Great Depression and The Dust Bowl, Ellen knew hard times. She knew how to pick cotton and how to break open a watermelon in the field. Her family moved to Emmett, Idaho when she was 16, which seemed an oasis compared to Oklahoma, but the hard work continued.

Ellen met Ken Meyers at high school in Emmett and the love and adventure began. They married on October 3, 1948. Their first daughter, Kathy, was born in Boise, Idaho Ken and his cousin, Don Ackaret, attended railroad telegraphy training in Spokane, Washington. Ellen worked as a telephone operator. Ken and Ellen’s second daughter, Marilyn, was born there. Working for the railroad meant traveling to small train stations in Washington, Idaho, and Montana. Ellen always said they survived by committing to always staying together, even if it meant living in a caboose on a railroad siding or in a 28’ camper surrounded by drifts of snow to the roof. The two of them built a rustic log cabin together with a two-man saw in Noxon, Montana. Their third daughter, Shelley, was born in Sandpoint, Idaho. They “settled” in Paradise and Plains, Montana where their daughters attended school. It was a true western Montana adventure with camping, hunting, and hiking most weekends. Ellen loved to fish and she hated snakes! Ellen was an avid seamstress, making everything from doll clothes to wedding dresses. She taught her daughters to sew and was a 4-H leader. She crocheted prolifically with a rhythm and tempo that would rival a musician. Her faith was always paramount; she served as the Sunday school superintendent and pre-school Sunday school teacher at her church. She always had a garden and loved arranging her flowers for church services. Ellen managed the television shop they owned together in Plains. She worked for the postal service in Paradise, as well as Plains and Thompson Falls. Ken always carried a camera and when he showed his photographs Ellen would beam with pride, “I got to go and see all those places”, and she did!

Once their daughters graduated, Ken and Ellen ranged a little farther, living in Havre, Livingston, Lewistown, and Belgrade. They lived and retired in Missoula, Montana until the big snow of 1996, when they moved to Waco, Texas where their daughter, Marilyn Wilson, lived with her family. They made many friends and were long time members of Highland Baptist Church. They continued to travel back to Montana, California, and Louisiana to visit their kids and grandkids. Ellen enjoyed being called upon to babysit the great grandkids while living in Waco. Ken moved to The Atrium nursing facility, where Ellen drove to visit him every day until Covid hit. After she recovered from Covid, she was able to join him. They celebrated their 72nd anniversary there and she was with Ken when he passed in June 2021.

Still quite independent, Ellen moved to Brookdale Lakeshore Senior Living. She could still quote poems she learned in school and kept her fun and sweet disposition to the last. She rarely complained, but did occasionally mention “running away from home.” She was still delighted by KFC and Coca-Cola. The family would like to thank the incredible staff at Brookdale, who kept her smiling and surrounded by butterflies. The cooks, hairdresser, and overworked personal attendants, you are more loved and appreciated than you can imagine. We would also like to thank the wonderful staff at Baylor Scott and White Hospice; there are no words but thank you.

She is survived by her daughters, Kathy Case and Shelley Meyers; her sister, Lois Ackaret; 8 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; and a great-great granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband; parents; sisters; brothers; daughter, Marilyn Wilson; and sons-in-law, Lee Wilson and Warren Case.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26th, at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd. Waco, Texas. Burial will follow at Moore Cemetery in Chalk Bluff.