Carrie Elaine Scott ""Scotty"" Ellis Wilkins

Carrie Elaine Scott ""Scotty"" Ellis Wilkins died August 4th surrounded by her loving family. Born on May 5, 1925 in Brookhaven, Mississippi, she attended high school in Ferriday, Louisiana, and later graduated from Louisiana Tech. From her early childhood she loved animals, wildflowers, books, fishing, wild birds, the outdoors and Western History. After college, she joined a theatre group that brought her west to Cripple Creek, Colorado, and later to summer stock theatre in Idaho Springs. There she met and married attorney Erl Ellis, and they had 36 wonderful years together. Although she never had any children of her own, she made a lifelong impact on thousands of children. She pursued a career teaching elementary school; first in Idaho Springs, and later with Denver Public Schools. In Denver she taught first, second and third graders, as well as special education classes at a school on 24th and Arapahoe. During her 30 years as a schoolteacher, she earned a Masters degree in Education from the University of Denver. After retiring in 1980, Scotty became an active volunteer in the Denver community. She was a founding member of Four Mile Historic Park and managed the Four Mile gift shop from its opening; serving as its volunteer buyer, manager and sales clerk for 34 years. Her husband Jim said she was the best sales person there. She also served as a board member of Historic Denver and the Shining Stars Foundation. A 30-year volunteer at the Denver Dumb Friends League, Scotty was honored as Volunteer of the Year and was their oldest active volunteer. She became known as the ""cat whisperer"" to the staff there. In addition, she was involved in Denver Rotary's high school mentoring and scholarship program. Scotty collaborated on several notable books which speak to her wide interests: International Boundary Lines across Colorado and Wyoming: A Lesson in Geography (1966), The Gold Dredging Boats around Breckenridge, Colorado (1967), Colorado Mapology (1983), and The Saga of Upper Clear Creek (1983). After the death of her first husband, Scotty married James ""Jim"" Wilkins in 1987 and they enjoyed 28 years of happiness together. They met at Four Mile Park in 1982 and their partnership extended to the many volunteer activities they shared together over the decades. She and her husband Jim received the Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award in 2003. She was also honored by Centus Counseling for her long-time involvement. After 65 active years with the Denver Posse of the Westerners, they awarded her the Lifetime Achievement Award in Western History last December. Scotty is survived by her loving husband Jim, her beloved dog Millie, plus numerous ""in-laws and cousins once removed, twice removed, and forcibly removed"". She will be missed by so many who loved her. A memorial service in Scotty's honor will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1820 Broadway, Denver, on Saturday, August 8th at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Four Mile Historic Park; 715 So. Forest Street, Denver, CO 80246. Please share your memories of Scotty and condolences with her family by signing the guestbook below.