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Show 282 Like Ellis, Sister Smith had served long years in the Relief Society. Like Ellis she left an impressive number of descendants. Unlike Ellis, she had fared rather well in that nine of her eleven children survived her, as opposed to three of Ellis' ten. This fact resulted in twice as many grandchildren for Julina (72 to Ellis' 38). JuTina's husband was President Joseph F. Smith; two of her sons were general authorities at her death (Joseph Fielding Smith of the Council of the Twelve, and David A. Smith, First counselor in the Presiding Bishopric). Both women outlived their husbands. The End Approaches In her final few years, Ellis reaped signal honors at home and elsewhere. An account by Mrs. Clarence Openshaw, a granddaughter, dated 1938, provides a graphic description of not only her appearance but personality, especially valuable, for she was then ninety-one and would live only another six months: My grandmother, Dr. Ellis R. Shipp, has been a source of unfailing comfort to me, to all of her children, and to the many others who have come within the circle of her life. Her instant and inexhaustible sympathy, her patient attention, kindly advice and encouragement, as well as service given in a more material fashion have lighted the way for the bewildered and unfortunate in more cases than we will ever know. The summing up of the accomplishments of her life forces the acknowledgment that she has indeed fulfilled her destiny... A short time ago when one of the children was requested to tell a real pioneer story, we decided to visit grandmother and ask her for an authentic one. She had retired early but at the sound of voices sat up at once, a dainty fragile grandmother, alert and eager to tell us her own story of crossing the plains.'^ |