Margaret S. Maggie (Rakaskas) Ellis

Ellis, Margaret “Maggie” S. (Rakaskas), 72, died unexpectedly of heart failure on February 5, 2015 in Locust Grove, GA. Funeral Service will be at 11:00 A.M., Friday, February 13, 2015, at Downing Lahey East Mortuary. Maggie was born in Anchorage, Alaska and with family moved to Wichita in 1952. She was a member of Southeast High Schools first graduating class in 1960. Matriculating in drama and theater production studies at Kansas University and Wichita State, she actively participated in local area stage productions. Employed by KAKE TV, Channel 10, as a public relations/production coordinator, she fulfilled a variety of positions at KAKE until her marriage to Vic Ellis and the start of 49 years living around the world. As an Air Force wife, the family located and relocated thirteen times in 28 years, living in such locations as Hawaii, US Air Force Academy, Washington D.C., Tucson, AZ, Stuttgart, Germany and Naples, Italy. When not volunteering and raising two boys she loved to travel. Motivated by a keen curiosity of foreign cultures, she traveled extensively throughout Europe, plus visiting Russia (during the Cold War), Egypt, Israel and sailed on multiple cruises from Alaska to the Mediterranean. As a Blue Cross volunteer nurse she was acknowledged and awarded for over 10 years service. A patron of the arts, she possessed an in-depth knowledge of operas, ballet, symphonic music and art history. At the next breath she could hold her own in talking baseball, March Madness or any instant replay call. Survivors include her husband, Vic Ellis of Locust Grove, GA; sons, Victor Ellis of Atlanta, GA, Matthew Ellis of Frederick, MD; brother, Joseph (Shirley) Rakaskas of Wichita; sister, Joanie (David) Gegen of Wichita; granddaughters, Aurora Ellis, Victoria Ellis, Virginia (Jenna) Ellis; brother-in-law, David (Elaine) Ellis of Arlington, WA; nieces, Gaby, Lyndy, Christy; nephews, Scooter, Chris, Jeff; six great-nieces and nephews. A memorial has been established with the National Parkinson Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018, www.parkinson.org.