Ellen Jordan Fiske died peacefully at her home in Greeley Hill of congestive heart failure on Aug. 16, just three days after her 93rd birthday. She was wonderful mother, active community member, and role model for many people. She loved music, helping other people, and caring for all living things.

Born Aug. 13, 1917, in St.

Born Aug. 13, 1917, in St. Louis, MO, to Myron and Pearl Jordan, she spent her earliest years in Riverside, Ill. and her teenage and young adult years in Southern California where she graduated from Pasadena High School and marched in the annual Rose Parade as a member of the Pasadena High School band. Upon graduation from Occidental College with a bachelor’s degree in biology, she took a summer job with the Yosemite Camp and Curry Company and began a lifelong love affair with Yosemite and with her future husband, John Fiske, also working in Yosemite, having grown up in the Coulterville area.

After raising three children in Arcadia, she and her husband and youngest daughter moved to Greeley Hill in 1969 where they built a house on an 80-acre ranch that was in the Fiske family. She was actively involved in Coulterville and Greeley Hill community life. Early on Ellen worked to get Bower Cave designated as an historic spot. She worked part-time at the Red Cloud Library for almost 30 years until her retirement in 2002. She continued as an active member of the Friends of Red Cloud Library until her death. She served as secretary of the Northside Seniors Club, which she and her husband help found.

Mrs. Fiske was an active member and played the organ at the Coulterville United Methodist Church until her retirement in 2010. She was an original supporter and life member of the Northern Mariposa County History Center; and she encouraged her family to document the Fiske family history in the area. She was the family lead in developing and managing the family property as a certified tree farm. She served as grand marshal for the Mariposa Christmas Parade (2005) and the Coulterville Coyote Howl (2006). In later years she was a member of the “Life History” writing class in Greeley Hill. She received a number of commendations and awards from the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors and other groups for her community service. She was a wonderful mother, active community participant, and role model for all. She was beloved and will be missed by all.

Ellen is survived by her son, Kent Fiske of Jackson, WY, and daughters Shirley Fiske, of Washington, D.C. and Nancy Craig and two grandchildren Rebecca and Jon Craig, residing in Stockton.

Services will be held on Friday Aug. 27, at 1:30 p.m. at the Coulterville United Methodist Church and a Celebration of Life pot luck will be held at the Greeley Hill Community Hall on Fiske Road in Greeley Hill at 3 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ellen Fiske’s name may be made to the Northern Mariposa County History Center, 10301 Highway 49, Coulterville, CA 95311, and Northside Seniors Club, c/o Sheryl Donahue, 11053 Stout Road, Coulterville, CA 95311.