Ellen Dollarhide

Ellen B. Beshearse was born in Calera, Oklahoma on Christmas Eve 1935 to Nora (Page) Beshearse and Harvey Lee Bethel Beshearse. She was the youngest of four children Ewin, Emma Lee, and Elmer. Being her father’s favorite earned her the nickname of “Babydoll” in the family. She grew up helping work the farm, milking cows and picking cotton.

She met her future husband Carl Jr. Dollarhide in Durant through notes he left in her college math notebook when he graded her work. They soon married making her Mrs. Ellen B. Dollarhide as Carl Jr. was leaving to serve in the army.

Once Carl Jr.’s military service was completed the newlyweds were reunited and worked together as teachers in Colorado. They soon returned to Oklahoma for the love of family and to start a small family of their own. They had two lucky daughters, Ginger D. and Jennifer K.

After taking time to be a devoted mother to her own small children Ellen went back to teaching. This time she taught in elementary education impacting the future of many young children with her kindness and integrity. Before she retired from teaching, she had begun to teach grandchildren of her previous students and was loved by many.

Carl Jr. and Ellen would retire together, but were sadly separated by death after more than 40 years of marriage.

Ginger followed in Ellen’s footsteps as a teacher after marrying her high school sweetheart Mitch Kelly. They have three beautiful girls, Amber Rae, Autumn Renee, and Anna Rose. Jennifer followed her dreams all the way to England. She married her heart’s match Tim Beech and they have one son, Trystan Alexander. All of Ellen’s grandchildren spent lots of happy hours with their Granny Dollarhide, who always mentored and inspired their education. Ellen was always very proud of all her grandchildren but she soon found herself surrounded by four great grandchildren, Ariell, Caleb, Caydence, and Carmen. They too brought her much pride and joy.

Ellen generously spent her life giving of herself for her family, extended family, and friends. She baby-sat and tutored, played endless dominoes, planted a garden, sewed costumes, and served food to anyone that came to visit. She showed how much her family mattered by how much she gave with her selflessness.

Ellen’s life ended peacefully June 2nd as daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and teacher who taught us far more about life and love than she did about academics.

Please join us in celebrating her life Wednesday, June 8th 2022 at the Bypass Church of Christ at 10AM, 120 SW Lincoln Road. Donations can be made to the church in lieu of flowers.
Viewing will be Tuesday, June 7th at Clardy Funeral Service from 5PM-7PM, 1201 E. Lincoln Road.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ellen Dollarhide, please visit our floral store.