Friday, December 30, 2022, in Coffeyville, Kansas was the day that our family's heart was broken in the loss of Ellen Lorraine Sewell. She was a wonderful wife, amazing mother, fantastic grandmother, loving aunt, and wonderful friend to many. There aren't words to ever express how deeply she loved or how deeply she was loved.
Ellen was born on February 2, 1951, in Coffeyville, Kansas to Luther and Lillian (Allen) McDowell. She attended school in Cherryvale completing her education at Independence Community Junior College. Ellen worked at Standard Motors except for a few years that she was employed at the Copan Handy Mart. After retirement she volunteered at the Coffeyville Salvation Army.
Ellen was married to her husband Joe Sewell of fifty-one years on September 11, 1971, in Cherryvale, Kansas at the United Methodist Church. The couple made their home in Caney, Kansas moving to Coffeyville in 2007 where they still reside. Joe and Ellen had two sons Brian, and Clint. Ellen was the mother that spoiled her children greatly and the grandchildren even more. She was that mother that cheered her son's on loudly at any of their sporting events. They always knew she was watching the game or wrestling match because they could hear her loud and clear.
Ellen was a longtime member of Wayside Christian, a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, an avid Chiefs football fan always watching the game and recorded the game to watch it again and again. She enjoyed bowling and loved to travel, making life an adventure. She never met a stranger always striking up a conversation with fellow travelers and finding a new friend before their departure. She was a faithful friend and had a golden heart that would have given her last dime to help anyone in need.
Ellen loved big and lived life to the fullest and those who will miss her most is her husband, Joe Sewell of the home; sons Brian Sewell and his wife Erika, Clint Sewell; grandchildren Calvin, Cade, Caleb Sewell and Eisley Sewell; sister Dorothy Whitaker. She was preceded by her parents Luther and Lillian (Allen) McDowell, sister Janet Newkirk and grandson Cody Sewell.
Funeral services will be held at10 am on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland Ave., in Coffeyville, Kansas. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, from 6-8pm also at Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel. Memorial Contributions can be made payable to: Wayside Christian Church or American Cancer Society and left in care of the chapel. Services will be streamed live under her obituary page at www.fordwulfbrunschapel.com where you may also leave an online condolence or share a memory with the family.
