Barbara Ellen Scott Goode passed from this life on February 8, 2017 at the age of 62, surrounded by her family and friends after a long illness. She was preceded in death by her father, C.O. Scott, her mother, Ruby Taylor Scott, and an infant sister Eleanor Gail. She is survived by James Goode, her husband of 31 years, the love of her life, her brother Lamar (Judy) Scott of Hartselle, AL, her sister Connie (Bill) Stewart of Tuscaloosa, AL nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.
Ellen graduated from Bradshaw High School and the University of North Alabama with a degree in education. She was employed by the Florence City Schools and worked at Brandon and Forest Hills Elementary Schools. She also served as the Artist in Residence through the Alabama State Council on the Arts at the Children’s Museum of the Shoals. Throughout her career, she was recognized as a talented artist within the Shoals community and was featured in the NOALA (April, 2012) for her corn husk creations. Her work was also displayed at the Biltmore, Southern Highland Art Guild, along the Natchez Trace Parkway, the Smithsonian Institute, and other prestigious museums, galleries and art venues. For the past 16 years, she was a board member on the of the Oka Kapassa Festival Committee and served as the Native American craft and artisan coordinator.
Ellen had many devoted friends. Her kind, gentle heart did not hold grudges. She was a loving person to friends, animals, and strangers alike. Everyone could talk openly with Ellen and she accepted you with a loving heart. She was generous and had a wickedly, funny sense of humor, and loved playing practical jokes. She was a caring teacher, and she used her loving insights to serve her students and brought out the best in them. She was blessed with a sweet inner spirit that was evident in all aspects of her life– her love for the students she served, her appreciation of nature, her creative cornhusk dolls, her drawings, her love for the Native people, and the way she enhanced her life with her flowers and her garden. Having Ellen in your life enriched and inspired all to be a better person for having known her.
She will be missed by many and will have a special place in the hearts of those who loved her. Many are blessed to be called family and friend by Ellen.
“In the twinkling of an eye she is gone. Gone from pain and suffering and the endless fight against her body. But arrived.
Arrived to that glorious promise of forever life, a place of no more suffering. A place she will see the light–The Light, where her smile will light up the heavens.
No longer ours–but His. ”
A memorial service will be held in March and will be announced by Morrison Funeral Home along with her family.
