Ellen Sitzes

GRANBURY, Texas -- Ellen Camille Caldwell Sitzes, 86, passed away due to an illness Friday, June 24, 2011, in Granbury.

Camille was born March 8, 1925, in Dexter, Mo., to Elmer and Thelma Brooks Cardwell. She was a former resident of Cape Girardeau. She married Russell Alford Sitzes on Oct. 28, 1950, at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She did extensive traveling for 23 years in the U.S. and overseas while Russell was in the Air Force. She settled in Texas in 1966 when Russell was assigned to Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas. She worked at Atlas Fireworks Co. in Azle, Texas, in the early 1970s making fireworks.

After retirement, she and Russell traveled the western half of the U.S. making new friends throughout the country. They spent many summers in Colorado, working mostly in South Fork and in Mountain Views RV Park in Creede. They also spent several winters in south Texas.

She had lived in Azle, Springtown and the last 31 years in Granbury.

She will be deeply missed by all of her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and a son-in-law.

Survivors include her children, Gregory Sitzes of Granbury, Janice A. (Larry) Shannon of Sherman, Texas, Doris McIntosh of Houston, Kevin Sitzes of Katy, Texas, and Kenneth Sitzes of Granbury; a grandson, Donald McIntosh; a granddaughter, Lisa (Moses) Hejny; a great-granddaughter, Shannon Catherine Hejny; a brother, William (Mary Lou) Caldwell of Albuquerque, N.M.; numerous nephews; nieces friends; and her faithful companion, her dog, Patty.

Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Bedwell Chapel of First Baptist Church in Granbury.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1676, Granbury, TX 76048; the Westlake Volunteer Fire Department, 19703 Saums Road, Houston, TX 77084 (phone: 281-492-0560); or a charity of your choice.