November 4, 1936 - March 13, 2025

Eleanor (“Ellie”) Lee Walmsley, 88, of Caseville, MI, and Sun City West, AZ, passed away on March 13, 2025, in Arizona, surrounded by family.

Born on November 4, 1936, in Malden, MA, she was the middle of three daughters. After WWII, her father’s job took the family to Detroit, where she graduated from Mackenzie High and met James, her beloved partner of 53 years. They settled in Westland, MI, for 35 years where they raised their three children. Ellie devoted herself to her family while working part-time in check processing at the Federal Reserve and in food service at the Livonia Public Schools’ central kitchen and Henry Ford Middle School for developmentally disabled teens – a role that brought her great joy. Ellie was known for her warm smile and unwavering optimism, even in the toughest of times. Ellie’s fierce love for James fueled her relentless battle with the medical system to secure experimental treatments for his stage four cancer. Her dedication extended his life for eighteen years, to the astonishment of his physicians. That competitive spirit was reflected in her love of bowling, tennis, and especially golf with several holes-in-one and league championships to her credit. Ellie and James cherished their retirement years in Arizona and Caseville with beloved neighbors and friends, golfing, and many travel adventures.

Ellie is survived by her daughter, Deborah (Robert); daughter, Jill; son, Steve (Brigitte); and grandchildren, Peter, Nicolas, and Tomas. She is also survived by her sisters, Joyce and Laurie, nieces, nephews, other family members, and many friends. She was predeceased by her husband, James; father, Ben; and mother, Louise. In lieu of flowers, Ellie would be most honored by donations to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) and/or Special Olympics.

No services are planned at this time.