November 21, 1948 - January 26, 2024
Overland Park, Kansas - Ellen N. Sudduth was born to Helena Miller Norquist and Elliot Norquist at St Luke's Hospital in Kansas City on Nov. 21st, 1948. She passed away from complications related to a stroke on Jan. 26th at St Luke's Hospital.
Ellen lived most of her 75 years in Kansas City. As a girl she attended the Barstow School and Southwest High School. Her college years were spent at Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS, where the highlight was singing in the renowned Bethany College choir. During her college years Ellen also spent summers in Spain studying Spanish, and later teaching English. Her love of the Spanish language inspired her to continue taking classes in her senior years.
Ellen was inspired by nature her entire life. As a child, she spent significant time in Loose Park walking the family dogs. She was a passionate animal lover from her earliest days, and most recently adopted a senior, Birman-breed cat named Scout.
Some of Ellen's most cherished memories were highlighted by many family sailing excursions to Lake of the Ozarks, Lake Michigan, and The Bahamas where she developed a lifelong love of swimming, wandering sandy beaches, and adding to her vast seashell collection. Visitors to her apartment always commented and asked for information about her unique seashells on display.
Ellen and her husband Bill traveled to Hawaii on several occasions during their marriage. She reveled in the colorful flowers, the exotic butterflies, and the people. Ellen had a lifelong enthusiasm for travel and tourism, even taking her companions on a cruise to Mexico in her late 60s, where she surprised jewelry vendors by enthusiastically negotiating prices in Spanish. Another highlight in her senior years was enjoying views of the countryside while on an excursion to Chicago via Amtrak. Ellen truly never needed an excuse or turned down an opportunity to be on the go with her friends.
When Ellen's parents bought a small ranch in Council Grove, KS in the 1970s, Ellen and Bill spent holidays and occasional weekends there with the family. It was a favorite destination for all. She especially loved time there with her young nephews. The 6N Ranch embodied colorful, wholesome, outdoor memories for all the generations. Ellen loved to tell of the time when renowned artist Fredrick James, who was a friend of her father, visited the ranch to draw and paint.
As a younger, married woman, Ellen relished being a homemaker and mother to her son. She generously committed much time and energy to the Church of Latter-day Saints. In the 1980s Ellen received training to become a massage therapist. She particularly loved instructing parents on infant massage. Ellen truly had the gift of gentle, healing touch.
Not long after Bill's death in 2007 Ellen moved to a retirement community in Overland Park. It was during her early years there that she became involved with the local chapter of Toastmasters International, where she became an award-winning public speaker. This was a very exciting and fulfilling portion of her senior life. She put great effort in preparing and practicing for each speech.
Ellen's caregivers while at Village Shalom, became her second family, and to whom she affectionately referred as her posse. Her last decade was enriched by their deep caring as they brought to her retired life much needed joy, humor, comfort, love, and adventure. Her primary private duty posse of Jani Doyle, Noa Adams, Deb Loomis, and Mike Dabill will greatly miss Ellen's beautiful blue eyes, bright expressions, rascally antics, clever puns, and eyebrow wiggles.
Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, Helena and Elliot Norquist, younger brother, Jon Norquist, husband, Bill Sudduth, and brother-in-law, Craig Patterson.
Ellen is survived by her older sister, Anne Patterson, Anne's three sons, Eric Patterson and spouse, Megan, and Andrew and Mark Patterson. As well as by her brother, Elliot Norquist and spouse, Caroline, and their son Frederick Norquist and spouse, Torie.
A visitation will be held at noon on Friday, February 9, 2024, followed by a funeral service at 1:00, interment, and a brief reception, at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ellen's name to the Saint Luke's Marion Bloch Neuroscience Institute, 4401 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111.
For more information and to leave condolences, please visit: MtMoriah.net.

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