Ellen Colley Atkins
Obituary
Ellen Colley Atkins was born January 31, 1931, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Richard P. and Golden E. Colley. Ellen graduated from Central High School and the University of Oklahoma. She married Donald B. Atkins in 1951 to whom she was married for just under 70 years before he passed away in 2020.
Ellen is survived by her children, Leslie Pritchard (husband, Bob), Blake Atkins (wife, Mandy), and Mark Atkins (wife, Latoya), 6 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.
Ellen was a member of Pi Phi Alumnae Club, Junior League of Tulsa, Colonial Dames, and was active, early on, with Children’s Day Nursery. She was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church for almost 60 years. She served on Altar Guild for many of those years and loved participating in needlepointing a number of their kneelers. She loved to play tennis and Bridge with her lifelong friends.
Ellen and Don had a tremendous bond as husband and wife, parents, grandparents and great- grandparents. They spent the last 30 years of their married life enjoying their travels together all over the globe. Ellen and Don loved hiking, biking, walking, cross-country skiing, cruising and looking forward to the next adventure. They loved watching sports together and following their grandchildren’s activities. Ellen will always be remembered by her friends and their families for her famous Christmas cookies and the countless charity and wedding invitations she prepared utilizing her skills with calligraphy.
A memorial service will be held 3:00 p.m. Friday, January 31, 2025 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 4200 S. Atlanta Place, Tulsa, OK 74105. A reception will follow at the church. Friends may contribute in Ellen’s memory to St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Events
Tributes & Memories
Ellen and my mother, Sue Wren, were best friends. They grew up together and knew each other since birth. I never knew life without Ellen being a part of our family even once we moved to California and, my mother was Godmother to Leslie. My mother passed a little over a year ago, and now Ellen has joined her in the great unknown…… once Ellen finds the hairdresser, I know they will be sipping cocktails, laughing together and my mother trying to get them into some kind of mischief. Somehow, as much as I miss my mom and I know how much Ellen will be missed, it gives me great comfort to think of them reunited.
Tally Wren
Ellen was like a second (very meticulous) mom to me. She was glamorous! We grew up living on 22nd Place with the Atkins. Leslie was my age and Blake was the same age as my brother Matt McNearney. It was a terrific neighborhood, probably almost 20 kids on the block. We played outside everyday, skateboarding, hide and seek, trampoline, exploring. Ellen was the default den mother, because my mom had Marge McNearney's, and worked during the day. Every summer she would pick my siblings and me up after lunch to go to Southern Hills for the afternoon. She asked us to call her Aunt Ellen and Uncle Don. I chose Ellen and Daddy Don even as a grown up. I loved both of them so much. I have the privilege of being Marshall's godmother. I'm so proud of him. Leslie and Blake were wonderful caregivers and so faithful to the end. My heart goes out to all of the family, Bob and Leslie, Blake and Mandy. Mark, and all the grandchildren. May the loving arms of God support you as you move on without their presence in you daily lives. Anne McNearney
Anne McNearney
Sorry for your loss Leslie and Blake. Fond memories of your parents doing their evening walk by my childhood home on 39th Street. Can still see Don’s golf swing in my mind! Bless you both. HB
HB Warren