Ellen Louise Southwick Hanford

June 29, 1933 – December 24, 2019

Ellen Louise Southwick Hanford was born June 29, 1933 to Earl William Southwick and Rula Jane Porritt in Harlem, Montana.  Ellen was the second of four children born to Earl and Rula.  Rula died February 2, 1935 and Ellen was raised by her maternal grandparents in Stevensville, Montana. Living there through the Depression and the War Years. In 1948 she and her family came to Washington State on a trip.  She met Virgil Rudolph Hanford and found her soul mate.  They married November of 1948 and moved into a home on Nile Road in East Wenatchee when Grant Road was a tiny dirt road.  In 1954 they moved to a farm on the Squilchuck then moving one more time in 1969 to the beautiful Entiat Valley. Ellen and Virgil were orchardists and owned the Ceramic Barn in Entiat, they did everything together as well as partners in life.  Ellen passed away peacefully at Tuscany Cottage on Cordell in Wenatchee, Washington surrounded by her loving family and friends who became family. 

Ellen is survived by her son, Randal Virgil Hanford and wife Gayle Walker Hanford of Ravensdale, Washington; her daughter Kathryn Ann Hanford Wiley and husband Harold Eugene Wiley of Entiat, Washington; her grandchildren Brooke M. Hanford Hempel and husband Jim of Las Vegas, Nevada; Brian C. Hanford and wife Tracy of Mallot, Washington; Joshua B. Hanford and wife Megan of Enumclaw, Washington; great grandsons Kyler Virgil Hanford, Kayden Roy Hanford of Enumclaw; great grandson Virgil Hanford great-granddaughter Tanzen Hanford and Ellie Hanford of Mallot; and great-granddaughter Breana Hempel of Philidelphia, PA; two nephews, Lanny Hanford of Kennewick and Frank Hanford of Twisp; and numerous other great nieces and nephews and many “adopted by love” kids. 

Ellen was preceded in death by her soul mate Virgil Rudolph Hanford in 2011; her father Earl William Southwick; her mother Rula Jane Porritt; her brother Earl Melvin Southwick; two stillborn sisters.

There will be a viewing from 1-5 p.m. on Thursday January 2, 2020 at Chapel of the Valley; 302 Ninth Street, Wenatchee, WA 98801, with graveside service to be held at the family cemetery in Sherman, Washington (Sherman is on the other side of Wilbur) on Friday January 3, 2020 at 1 p.m. 

Arrangements are made by Chapel of the Valley, Wenatchee, WA 98801.