Ellen Parker Sterrie

Ellen Sterrie passed away peacefully on May 18, 2026, just short of her 102nd birthday. She lived a long life rooted in family, tradition, and the place she loved most — the quiet stretch of Soldiers Creek in Alabama that she called home for nearly all her life. Her home sat only about a mile from where she grew up, and she never really wanted to be anywhere else.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Donald Hess Sterrie (“Don”), with whom she shared many happy years of marriage after marrying on March 30, 1946. She was also preceded in death by her parents, James and Erma Parker; her daughter, Nancy Sterrie; her grandson, Lance Murphy; her sister, Leona Russell; and her brother-in-law, Maclyn Russell.

She is survived by her brother Bob and wife Patsy Parker, son Robert “Bob” Sterrie and his wife Niki; her grandsons Robert Sterrie II and Chris Sterrie and his wife Kelly; and her great-grandsons Henry Sterrie and Colin Sterrie. She also leaves behind many extended family members, neighbors, and lifelong friends who were part of the close circle she loved deeply throughout her life.

In her later years, she shared an especially close bond with her daughter-in-law, Niki, who loved her as her own mother. Niki visited her often, made sure she always had home-cooked meals, and remained devoted to her comfort and companionship through the years.

Ellen had a gift for making ordinary moments feel special. Family summers were filled with fish fries after long days in the water, usually served with cheese grits, hush puppies, and strawberry jelly. She loved watching birds outside her home and kept a bird book nearby at all times, always enjoying the simple beauty of the creek she called home. She also had a remarkable green thumb and was especially proud of her beautiful Christmas cactus plants.

Anyone who ever sat beside her at a table covered in blue crabs remembers her mastery. While everyone else struggled with shells and made a mess, she could pick crab meat effortlessly, all while carrying on a full conversation without missing a beat.

More than anything, Ellen loved having her family together. The memories she created along Soldiers Creek — around the table, on the dock, and in the water — will live on for generations.