Ellen Smith
April 22, 1950 - February 4, 2010

Sunset Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home 6801 E. Business 20 Odessa, TX 79762 Map to Funeral Home Memorial Service Sunset Memorial Chapel 6801 E. Business 20 Odessa ,  TX 79762 2/11/2010 at 2:30pm Map to Funeral Home

Ellen Brooks Halsell Smith, 59, passed away Thursday, Feb.4, 2010 at home in Odessa.

Ellen Brooks Halsell was born in Odessa, Texas, April 22, 1950 to Harry H. Halsell and Nelle Pirtle Halsell. She graduated from Permian High School and attended college in Denton, Texas. Ellen was a loving Mother, Grandmother, Wife, Sister, Aunt and Friend and touched many people over the years. She also loved animals and plants and sought to give life to all her surroundings. She loved being outdoors and working with plants and her herb garden. The Big Bend Area held a special place in her heart and she loved to explore the area with friends and family.

She was very interested in American Indian and Egyptian cultures and studied and collected works of each culture. With a beautiful smile and a certain mysterious allure she always kept an open mind and was a stranger to no one. As an avid reader she also wrote several unpublished works of fiction and poetry. Ellen and her husband’s love of literature eventually led them to open a book store in Odessa, and she ran the Avalon Bookstore on 52nd Street for a short time. A wonderfully bright soul has left her earthly body and she is now shining brightly over all those who cared for and loved her.

Ellen is survived by her husband, Gary Donaghe Smith; daughter, Rachael Brooks Jones; brother and sister-in-law, Harry H. Halsell II and Glenda Halsell; grandson, Nigel D. Jones; nephews, Corey and Bryan Halsell. Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Nelle Halsell and one brother, Bryan Halsell.

Memorial service will be held in her honor at 2:30 pm Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010 at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Odessa, Texas.