Obituary
Ellen W. Steele
July 14, 1920 – June 23, 2016
Ellen W. Steele, 95, of Aurora, passed away June 23, 2016. Ellen Willey was born in Harmony Corners, Charlton, Saratoga County New York. She is survived by her son Laurence, daughter-in-law Virginia, granddaughters Pamela and Judith, and foster daughters Lonnie (Richard) Morgan, and Lyn (Don) Von Achen. A celebration of her life will be held later this summer.
The Steeles moved from Park Hill to Aurora Hills in 1963. Peoria was the end of civilization in those days and to move east of it considered folly. Havana Street and Alameda Avenue were two-lane roads (Alameda had yet to be paved).
In 1969, the Aurora City Council appointed a Historical Commission to “look into the ways and means of operating a museum” in the city. Ellen was appointed to the original body. She served on the Commission through the 1976 Centennial-Bicentennial.
Ellen loved the West. She loved the mountain men and the military forts and the mountains. She read everything she could lay her hands on about the West. She was a pioneer, too. She went back to teaching, but in a new field. Special education was in its infancy, and she created
the Grade 7 through 12 curriculums in special ed for the Cherry Creek School District. Though few people know this – it was Ellen who sug- gested that Overland High School be named for the Overland/Smoky Hill Trail. This suggestion paved the way for other high school names throughout the Cherry Creek School District.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Aurora Museum Foundation or the Plattsburgh College Foundation (SUNY Plattsburgh).