Ellen Gregorio Smucker

Ellen Gregorio Smucker, 95, died peacefully May 14, 2021 at Bell Minor Home in Gainesville, Georgia.  She was born May 3, 1926 the oldest child of the late Pelagia Hilario Gregorio and Ciriaco Gregorio, Pasay City, Philippines.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Roy W. Smucker, Sr., and three younger brothers.  She is survived by two sons, Rocko (Roy Jr.) Smucker (Becky) of Asheville, NC and Robert J. Smucker (Penny) of Flowery Branch.  She is also survived by six grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren as well as a younger brother Dalmy Gregorio (Juliet) whose family resides in Manilla.

Soon after surviving deprivation from the WW2 Japanese occupation of the Philippines, Ellen met her husband Roy when she did secretarial work for the relief organization Church World Services of which he was a director.  In 1953 they moved to the United States where Roy managed several Christian books stores, and eventually opened his own store in Champaign, Illinois.  For sixteen years Ellen was a secretary for the US Geological Survey located on the campus of the University of Illinois. It was there they help start the First Mennonite Church of Champaign-Urbana.  The couple retired to Fairfield Bay in Arkansas and then Fairfield Glade in Tennessee.

Ellen was an ardent gardener and floral arranger creating expansive flower gardens wherever she lived.  She won several blue ribbons for her arrangements.  She was active in the Mennonite and later United Methodist churches teaching Sunday School, participating in choir, providing floral arrangements for services, and participating in many committees.  Living near universities and military bases she opened our homes for many many years to a large host of foreign students and the military, especially those from the Philippines.

Ellen also created an untold number of unique frameable ornate paper sculptures called quilling.  Quilling is the art of folding and rolling slender strips of colorful paper into images.  She sold and gave away many of her works of art.

Six years after Roy died, Ellen had a stroke and went to live near Rocko in Asheville and then Gainesville to be near Robert.

The family would like to thank Morningside of Gainesville assisted living and Bell Minor Home for the compassionate care they gave Ellen, especially during this difficult year.  Ellen contracted COVID in January and wasn’t able to fully recover from its effects.  Their personal support was laudable.  Also, much gratitude to Jim Reavis of Gainesville First United Methodist Church for his frequent spiritual visits and consistent contacts with the family.

Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com

Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Georgia  30501 is in charge of arrangements.