Ellen Gilchrist Mutrux died on April 5, 2011.  She was born on October 28, 1915, in Nashville, Tennessee. Ellen was one of 6 children born to Christine and Edward Gilchirst. The family settled in Parkville, Missouri, near Kansas City. She loved to tell how as a toddler she would hide under the seat of her father’s horse-drawn wagon before he headed for town.  She loved adventure.

In 1937 she graduated from Park College with a degree in biology. Her Aunt Nan, a professor of Home Science at the University of Otago in Dunedin, offered her a teaching position. Two days after graduation she boarded a ship for New Zealand. For the next 2 years Ellen taught biology in a private girls’ boarding school in Dunedin.

Ellen returned to the United States on the last boat out of New Zealand before the war broke out. She got a job in Cleveland, Ohio, as part of the huge war effort. Ellen met Louise Mutrux who invited her to visit the Mutrux family in St. Louis. It was there she met Jean Louis Mutrux, one of 12 Mutrux children. They were married September 16, 1944. Their marriage lasted 37 years until Jean’s death in 1992.

In 1962, she found her true life’s calling. She joined forces with Mary Dunbar and Betty Smith in creating Forsyth School, a progressive positive learning experience for 3 and 4 year olds which quickly expanded to include up to 6^th grade. With her love of children and natural science she totally immersed herself in teaching and became an inseparable colleague and lifelong friend of Mrs. Dunbar. Ellen was known for bringing many wonderful hands-on science experiences to her students.  Enamored with all her students, she told many stories about their experiences and kept up with many of them after she retired.  She was especially proud that her doctor for her last few years was one of her former Forsyth student.

She retired in 1982 to travel, garden, and enjoy her grandchildren.

As a child Ellen’s family attended Unity Church in Kansas City. She remembered the services of Myrtle and Charles Fillmore, the founders of Unity Church.  Her memorial will be held at Unity Christ Church (next to Forsyth School) on Skinker and Forsyth on April 16, 2011, at 2 p.m.  Donations may be made to St. Louis Society for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Ellen is survived by her children Justin Mutrux of Willow Springs, Missouri, Martha Carr of Gardner, Colorado, Tirzah Mutrux of San Francisco, California, and Eric Mutrux of Ballwin, Missouri, her sister Ann Archer of Ocala, Florida, 13 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and one great great grandkid.