Ellen Marie Jenkins, 80, of Guthrie, Oklahoma, passed away on July 31, 2025, in Oklahoma City. She was born on January 21, 1945, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Martin and Ruth (Rogers) Shipman.

Ellen grew up with a strong spirit and a love for life that would carry her through every chapter. After graduating from Stillwater High School, she attended the Oklahoma School of Banking and began her career as a secretary and bookkeeper for Consolidated Wholesale, a company in the wholesale foods industry. Her keen mind and steady determination made her not just good at her work, but deeply respected by all who knew her there.

On September 16, 1963, Ellen married the love of her life, Bill Jenkins. Together, they built a beautiful life rooted in faith, love, and community. Guthrie has been their home ever since, and their marriage of more than 60 years stands as a testament to unwavering devotion. Ellen and Bill were longtime members of Charter Oak Baptist Church, where they found comfort, connection, and purpose.

Ellen was a woman of remarkable strength, and perhaps nothing demonstrated that more than the way she turned tragedy into advocacy. In 1993, Ellen and Bill lost their only child, Michael, at just 12 years old, to a heartbreaking oil-field accident. Out of that unimaginable grief, Ellen became a tireless advocate for safety awareness, determined to protect other families from experiencing the same loss.

She partnered with the Oklahoma Safe Kids Coalition and the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board, personally stuffing and mailing 1,800 letters to schools across the state to promote the safety video Play It Smart. Her efforts sparked statewide action and renewed interest in oil-field safety education. Together with Bill, she also created a traveling oil-field safety exhibit complete with a working pumping unit and a scale model of a tank battery that they took to schools, farm safety fairs, and community events. Through their advocacy, countless children and families were educated about safety, a legacy of love born from heartbreak.

Outside of her work and advocacy, Ellen was at her happiest under open skies. She loved RV-ing, boating, camping, fishing, and even hunting. She believed in living life fully, savoring moments by the water, around a campfire, or under a canopy of stars.

Ellen's life was marked by her fierce love for her family, her faith, and her community. She was resilient, kind, and always ready to lend a helping hand. Though she faced profound sorrow, she carried herself with grace and found ways to create light for others.

Ellen is survived by her husband Bill, numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews as well as extended family and many friends whose lives she touched deeply. She was preceded in death by her son Michael, her parents Martin and Ruth Shipman, and sisters Ruth Newsom and Linda Shipley.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at 10:00 AM at the Hayes Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Wesley Robertson officiating. Inurnment will follow at Summit View Cemetery.