Longtime Ajijic resident Ellen Louise (Hamilton) Allison died in her home on March 1 at the age of 70.
Born November 3, 1939, in Cold Spring, Minnesota, Allison attended school in nearby Eden Valley. She worked as an executive secretary for Control Data Corporation in Minnesota, a powerful early computer business. Her battle with rheumatoid arthritis forced her retirement in 1983.
She and her husband, Dennis Allison, moved to Ajijic in October 1992. While in frequent pain and with limitations that would have halted life for most people, she underwent 25 surgeries to repair and restore the joints damaged by the disease. She remained friendly and cheerful, and was quietly assisting and encouraging ailing friends. She enjoyed an active participation in Al-Anon and Club 12.
Allison thrived on giving to others and worked tirelessly for the Ormsby Children’s Home in Huejotitan, Jalisco, where she provided eight annual Christmas parties. The Allisons entertained in their Ajijic home, hosting huge Christmas decoration displays and cookie exchanges and several memorial services for dear friends. They organized and supervised enormous Super Bowl parties and ten annual Thanksgiving celebrations for 70 to 80 people.
Allison continued to travel when her health permitted and she loved to cook, baking for her family and friends. She was an avid reader, and a highlight for her last year was the purchase of a Kindle device filled with dozens of books. It satisfied her ravenous appetite for books while relieving the pain and pressure of holding a traditional book.
Allison was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers. She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Dennis Allison of Ajijic, sons Wade Allison of Kilkenny, Minnesota and Kelly Allison of Maylene, Alabama, and a daughter, Melinda Clegg of San Diego, California. She had six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at the Lake Chapala Society on March 12.
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