Our beloved Ellen Elizabeth Blair passed into the arms of the angels on February 7 at her home in Seattle. Ellen’s name means Light and she brought Light and Joy to her family and many friends.
Ellen was born to David and Cheryll Blair in Bellingham. After graduating from Sehome High School in 1994, she earned BA and MA Degrees in Earth Systems at Stanford University. Ellen made lifelong friends at Stanford and she loved them fiercely.
Ellen was passionate about caring for the earth and her professional career reflected that passion. From Save the Bay in San Francisco to Triangle Associates and Sound Transit in Seattle, she helped manage and oversee projects designed to make a positive impact on our planet.
Our beautiful Ellen was a luminous spirit. Creative, artistic, smart, witty, an accomplished pianist, compassionate, kind and thoughtful, she impressed and inspired those she knew well and those she had just met. Her radiant smile and boisterous laugh are unforgettable.
Ellen loved to travel visiting countries in Europe, Central America, South America and Singapore. Yet, a favorite destination was Disneyland! Since childhood Ellen was enamored with Disneyland. She wrote many letters to its staff requesting information for real and hoped-for family trips. A large file folder bulges with their responses and brochures. Her most recent trip there was in September, 2023. A cherished activity was sitting on the floor with her niece and nephews creating fantastical Lego structures including Disney-style Theme Parks!
Ellen loved power boating with her family in the San Juan Islands and she learned to scuba dive and sail in California. She happily volunteered to help crew on sailboats in San Francisco Bay.
Ellen spent one summer in a tent on San Juan Island researching with the University of Washington the effects of boat traffic noise on behavior and communication of Orcas. Orcas were lifelong favorites and seeing them in the wild always brought her joy.
Ellen met the love of her life, Robert Rexford, in 2013. They married in the spring of 2015. Their marriage was built on love, respect, intelligence and humor. They shared adventures while enjoying their home and their garden which Ellen filled with native plants.
.Ellen embraced her step daughter, Olivia Rexford, with kindness and love.
Ellen is deeply missed by her parents, her husband and step daughter, her sister Kathryn Merris (Brian), her brothers John Blair (Meagan), Jay Blair (Montserrat Burrull); her niece Ellen June Merris, and her nephews Tommy Merris, Sterling Blair and Austin Blair. Her many aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends share this sorrow.
A Celebration of Ellen’s Life will be held at First Congregational Church of Bellingham on Saturday, May 31, at 2 pm. Donations in Ellen’s memory may be made to Skagit Land Trust or Planned Parenthood. Ellen made the world a brighter place and her Light will always shine!
