Ellen A. (MacDonald) Moore

Ellen A. Moore, age 75, resident of Florissant, Co, passed away due to natural causes on January 24th, 2023. 

Ellen was born 29 April 1947 in Alameda, CA to Olga Soroka Macdonald and Harry Macdonald. 

Ellen was the oldest of three children, big sister to her brothers Keith and William. She was spectacularly tall at 6’2” and athletic. She often cared for her brothers and they were a close family. 

She attended high school in Lafayette, CA. Ellen achieved a degree in physical education, at San Jose State, where she met her first husband, Martin C. Beavers. She earned her teaching credential in physical education and biology. She had daughters Christina and Teresa, and between caring for them she was a passionate swimming instructor and swim team coach. Her students ranged from little kids all the way up to adult learners, and masters swimmers. She inspired with her steadfastness and sense of humor. Ellen enjoyed supporting her daughters in their interests and athletic endeavors, and they both joined her in competing in swimming and teaching kids to swim as well.

Ellen was as big hearted as she was tall. She had friends of many different walks of life, and loved the simple things: traveling, camping, and spending time with friends and family, especially her daughter Tina with whom she was very close. After her divorce from Martin, Ellen shared a spiritual journey with Tina that enriched her life greatly in her later years. Ellen also delighted in spending time with her twin grandsons, Aaron and Anthony. 

Ellen married Tom Moore in 1997, and they were together until he passed away in 2012. She and Tom had grand adventures; they became camp hosts for a campground and traveled extensively with their camper trailer. Ellen longed for a simple lifestyle, and with Tom she had that. She and Tom prioritized living in nature, and this drove them to relocate to Florissant and build their home from the ground up. She loved the country life, and even after she lost Tom she stayed in the home they built together. For many years, Tom’s son Ron has lived at the property and will miss her dearly. 

Ellen loved her church family at Little Chapel of the Hills in Divide, and her bible study group and retreat companions gave her a lot of meaning and encouragement in her later years. 

Ellen is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Christina LaSalle and Todd LaSalle, grandsons Aaron and Anthony LaSalle of Longmont, CO; daughter and son-in-law Teresa Psuty and Adrian Psuty, grandchildren Miles, Imogen and Declan Psuty of Newcastle, CA; Stepmother Arline Macdonald of Bend, OR; Brother Keith Macdonald of Bend, OR, Bill Macdonald of Proctorville, OH, and Ron Moore of Florissant, CO. 

Memorial services will be held at Little Chapel of the Hills in Divide, CO, Thursday, February 2nd at 3pm. 

Mourners who wish to donate in Ellen’s honor are encouraged to make a donation to Rocky Mountain Dog Rescue or their favorite animal rescue organization. 

Floral tributes can be sent to Mountain Memorial Funeral Home in Divide CO. 

Our family wishes to thank Little Chapel of the Hills for their generous care of our family at this difficult time. 

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